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Xatter 2)a^ ZLricks. 



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PUBLISHED BY THE AUTHOR. 



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PRICE ONE DOLLHR. 



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COPYRIGHTED 1896, 

BY A. ROTERBERG. 



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PREFACE. 



In issuing ''The Modern Wizard" of vvhicli the present 
volume is a sequel, I somewhat underrated the space I 
had allowed for the description of such modern tricks 
that do not require a great deal of apparatus and there- 
fore was obliged to omit a number of them, a description 
of which will be found in the following pages together 
wMth a number of new tricks that have come out since the 
publication of the first work. 

Not wishing to be accused of plagiarism, I take pleas- 
ure in stating that for the idea of several tricks described 
in "Latter Day Tricks" I am indebted to those ex^- 
cellent German periodicals "Der Zauber Spiegel" and 
**Die Zauber Welt" and take this opportunity of publicly 
tha'^king the editors of these papers for their courtesy in 
allowing me to select such material from their periodicals 
as I deemed suitable for my readers. 

Sincerely hoping that * 'Latter Day Tricks" will meet 
with as favorable a reception as its predecessor I remain 

Respectfully, 

Chicago, III. A. Roterberu. 



LHTTER DHY TRICKS. 



ROBINSONS FLYING HANDKERCHIEFS. 

The author takes pleasure to open the present 
volume with a description of this excellent trick. Those 
of his readers, who are advanced in the art of magic, 
will readily recognise the beauty of the experiment and 
no doubt add it to their repertory. A great deal of prac- 
tice ought however be devoted to it, in order to suc- 
cessfully produce the numerous brilliant and deceptive 
effects according to the directions of the inventor of the 
trick. 

A red and a green silk handkerchief are wrapped 
in separate papers, each being given to a spectator to 
hold. The persons being requested to open their parcels 
a few moments later, find that the handkerchiefs have 
changed places 

There are two methods by which this result may be 
attained. The first method depends upon sleight of hand, 
pure and simple, while in the second and easier method 
a ruse is employed, which is already familiar to those of 
my readers who have read "The Modern Wizard. " Each 
sheet of paper, that is used to wrap one of the handker- 
chiefs in, really consists of two la\ers, between which is 



6 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

placed a smaller silk handkerchief, which is ironed out 
smooth previous to its introduction between the double 
paper, the edges of which are then neatly glued and 
trimmed off smooth. One of the double papers contains 
a red handkerchief, while the other one contains a green 
one, both papers being marked so as to enable the con- 
jurer to distinguish one from the other; the red silk hand- 
kerchief is wrapped in the double paper containing the 
small green handkerchief and the green handkerchief is 
is enveloped in the remaining paper. 

After this has been done the performer can easily 
manipulate the papers in such a manner as to confuse the 
spectators in regard to their contents. Taking the par- 
cel containing the red handkerchief, he tears the paper 
open a trifle, allowing the spectators to see the exposed 
part of the green one, thus apparently proving that the 
parcel that he holds is the one containing the green hand- 
kerchief. In the same way he shows that the other par- 
cel seems to contain the red handkerchief. The parcels 
are given to be held and their contents, upon the per- 
formers command, change places with the greatest of 
ease. 

In the pure sleight of hand method, the performer 
wTaps up the red handkerchief and gives it to someone 
to hold, in reality handing him an empty paper, which 
he has meanwhile substituted for the one containing the 
red handkerchief, the latter parcel being still kept con- 
cealed in the hand. He next wraps up the green hand- 
kerceief and adroitly exchanges this for the palmed par- 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. ^ 

eel. The first person is supposed to have the red hand- 
kerchief and the second person the green one, whereas 
the first person has the empty paper, while the other one 
has the red handkerchief. The performer now drops the 
paper containing the green handkerchief into the tail 
pocket or profonde of his coat from where he can obtain 
it again with comparative ease. With the right hand he 
next secretly obtains possession of a duplicate red hand- 
kerchief, which was vested and rolled into as small a 
compass as possible, being kept in that shape by means 
of a weak thread tied around it. To more effectually 
conceal the presence of this red handkerchief in the 
right hand, the wand is held in the latter. The perform- 
er next remarks to the person apparently holding the red 
handkerchief, '*Now sir, I am going to invisibly take 
the handkerchief out of the parcel that you are holding. 
All that I have to do is to touch the paper with the wand 
(does so) and here it is, on the tip of the wand." He 
produces the handkerchief from the tip of the wand b\^ 
holding the latter at the bottom with the left hand, then 
running the right hand along it to the top, breaking the 
thread during the upward movement, so when the hand 
reaches the top of the wand, the handkerchief will im- 
mediately expand. 

Continuing his patter, the performer requests the 
gentleman to open his parcel, to convince himself that 
the red handkerchief has really left it. The person does 
so and of course finds the paper empty. While the 
attention of the audience is centered on the spectator, 



8 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the performer utilizes this opportunity by secretly pro- 
curing a gcQda silk handkerchief, keeping it palmed and 
stating his intention to again wrap the red handkerchief 
in the paper, starting to do so, but suddenly changes his 
mind and places the red handkerchief over his shoulder. 
He then apparently rolls up the paper only and gives 
this to the gentleman to hold, but in performing the 
operation he secretly introduces the palmed handkerchief 
into the empty paper. 

Palming another green handkerchief, the conjurer 
goes to the second person and by the process already 
described, extracts the green handkerchief from the par- 
cel held by this gentleman. The green handkerchief 
thus produced is made to disappear by rolling it up and 
making the pass, then commanding it to travel into the 
empty paper held by the first spectator. Both papers 
are opened and the change is seen to have taken place. 

As the papers are opened, the performer gets rid of 
the palmed, green handkerchief and palms in its stead 
the vested paper containing the green handkerchief 
which was placed there during the first part of the trick. 
He then remarks that for the benefit of those who did 
not discover how the trick was done, he will repeat the 
experiment. Wrapping up the red handkerchief he 
adds the palmed parcel to this squeezing both quite 
tightly, so that they will stay together and have the size 
and appearance as if they contained the one handkerchief 
only. This parcel is then given to the first spectator to 
hold. The conjurer then wraps the green handkerchief 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 9 

in the remaining paper, makes the pass with the parcel 
palming it in the right hand and pretends to place this 
parcel into the gentleman's outside upper coat pocket 
with the left hand. With the right hand he at the same 
time seizes the lapel of the gentleman's coat, the thumb 
being outside and the fingers containing the parcel bting 
inside of the lapel, directly behind the pocket. The gent- 
leman is now requested to convince himself by feeling, 
that the parcel is really in the pocket. He does so and 
feeling, as suggested to him by the performer, from the 
outside without actually placing his hand into the pocket, 
feels the parcel held behind the coat by the performer 
and does not hesitate to testify to the presence of the 
parcel in his pocket. The performer now commands the 
parcel to leave the spectator's pocket and to join the one 
held by the other gentleman, who upon investigation 
discovers the two parcels in his hand, while the other 
spectator finds his pocket to be empty. 



THE IMPROVED SOUP PLATE AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICK. 

The performer introduces an ordinary soup plate, 
which he shows freely from both sides and then turns it 
upside down on the table. He then takes a silk handker- 
chief between his hands and causes it to gradually become 
smaller and smaller, finally opening both hands and show- 
ing them to be entirely empty. Turning up the plate or 
asking a spectator to do so, the missing handkerchief is 
found underneath. 



10 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

The ordinary method of performing the trick by hav- 
ing a duplicate handkerchief already concealed under the 
fingers holding the plate and introducing it under the lat- 
ter when inverting it, is no doubt familiar to most of my 
readers and will therefore not be described. 

FIRST METHOD. 
A newer and better way is to have the folded dupli- 
cate handkerchief concealed in a small clip, fastened on 
the rear edge of the table top. In inverting the plate on 
the table, the performer secretly removes the handkerchief 
from the clip and introduces it under the plate in the fol- 
lowing manner. The plate is held by the rim with the 
thumb and fingers in such a way that the thumb is kept 
on the back of the plate, while the first finger is under- 
neath, the remaining fingers being unoccupied, Holding 
the plate thus, the conjurer shows it repeatedly from both 
sides and finally knocks on the table with it, to demon- 
strate that the plate is a real one. In doing so, he quickly 
seizes the handkerchief, concealed in the clip, with the 
disengaged fingers and deftly introduces it under the 
plate. The trick is now practially done, as all that remains 
is to disappear another second handkerchief, which the 
conjurer can do in various ways, as for instance by means 
of the Hand Box, Vanishing Pull, Thread Pull etc. 

SECOND METHOD. 
For this a false bottom is required, fitting into the 
plate, and made out of strong white cardboard, the upper 
side of which is covered with white glazed paper. Previous 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. II 

to the trick, a handkerchief is placed on the soup plate, 
which is a white china one and is then covered by the 
false bottom, the edge of which is beveled to ensure a 
proper fit of the bottom in the plate, which if properly 
prepared, may be freely shown from both sides, 
the presence of the false bottom being practically impos- 
sible to detect. To prevent the bottom from falling out 
while the plate is shown, the performer holds it in place 
with his fingers. In inverting the plate on the table, the 
bottom drops down and the hidden handkerchief is 
liberated, being afterwards discovered under the plate. 

Some performers have the lower side and edge of 
the cardboard disc lined with newspaper and during the 
trick, invert the plate on a newspaper spread on the table, 
The lined bottom being on the newspaper is therefore not 
discernable. A still better way is to have the lower side 
and edges of the fake bottom the same color as the table 
top, which plan makes the use of the false bottom still 
more difficult to detect. 

THIRD METHOD. 

In this case, the newspaper on which the plate is 
placed during the trick is a prepared one, Part of the col- 
umn line of a newspaper, (which during the trick is folded 
in four) is neatly cut and a small pocket of newspaper is 
inserted here, in w^hich is placed a thin silk handkerchief 
The paper lies already folded on the table, the prepared 
side being innermost. The conjurer picks it up this way, 
shows it carelessly from both sides, and openg it out, be- 



12 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

ing careful to keep the side containing the pocket towards 
himself, then folding it up again, this time managing to 
have the prepared side outwards. The paper is then 
placed, prepared side downwards, on the seat of an ordi- 
nary chair and the plate, after being shown, is placed 
upside down upon it. With a conjurer's inconsistency, the 
performer changes his mind and decides to place plate 
and paper under the chair, as someone might imagine 
that the chair had something to do with the trick. With 
the left hand he picks up plate and paper together, at the 
same time inserting the fingers of the right hand into the 
pocket of the lower side of the newspaper, with the same 
hand drawing the plate off the paper. By means of this 
indetectable sleight, he has introduced the handkerchief 
under the plate, which is now placed on the open paper 
and the trick proceeds as described. 

FOURTH METHOD. 

This method is a variation of the last one, the pre- 
pared newspapers being again employed. The paper is 
shown, folded up etc. and the plate placed upside down 
upon it, so that the rear side of the rim is even with the 
slit column, out of which a short black thread protrudes, 
which is fastened to one corner or to the center of the 
handkerchief concealed in the hidden pocket. After the 
second handkerchief has been vanished, the performer 
seizes thread and rim of the plate together and quickly 
turns the plate over, by which process the handkerchief 
is drawn out of the pocket and is seen lying in the plate. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 13 

THE FOUR SOUP PLATES AND HANDKERCHIEFS. 

An excellent trick, which although not entirely new, 
still is very little known, is the following. On each of 
two side tables the performer has two plates. On one of 
them he places a silk handkerchief and then turns the 
second plate upside down upon it. The empty plate on 
the opposite right table is then covered in a similar man- 
ner with the remaining plate. A change is now com- 
manded to take place and upon lifting off the upper plate 
on the left table, the handkerchief is seen to have vanish- 
ed, both plates being empty, while upon taking apart 
the remaining plates, the missing handkerchief is f und 
in the lower one. 

By means of two black threads, adroitly manipulated 
by the performer's assistant, this charming effect is pro- 
duced, I will first explain the vanishing of one of the 
handkerchiefs, of which two are employed as my reader 
will have surmised. On the servante of the left table lies 
a thread, to the end of which is fastened a black pin bent 
into the shape of a hook, the thread is then led from here 
to the inside of the bottom of the table, wheieaholeisbored 
through which the thread passes to tlie floor. A staple is 
driven in the latter, through which the thread is passed 
and then led to the assistant behind the screen or wing. 

While exhibiting the handkerchief, the performer 
picks up the black pin and secretly hooks it into the 
center of the handkerchief, which he now places on the 
lower soup plate, and taking the second plate, inverts it on 



14 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the first one. While the two plates are still about half an 
inch apart from eac!i other, the assistant gives a quick 
pull to the thread, by which process the handkerchief is 
drawn out from between the two plates with lightning like 
rapidity and flies into the body of the table. This disap- 
pearance is so quick and indiscernible, that the author 
in performing the trick even made so bold as to allow a 
spectator to stand in front of the table and to place the 
second plate on the lower one, without him detecting the 
modus operandi. 

The appearance of the other handkerchief between 
the plates on the right table is worked on a somewhat 
similar principle. From where the assistant is stationed, 
is led along the floor another thread, which passes 
through a staple in the floor, through the bottom and top 
of the table and then through a small hole drilled through 
the center of the bottom of the lower soup plate, To 
this end of the thread is fastened the handkerchief by its 
center, the thread being drawn out sufficiently to allow 
of placing the handkerchief on the servante of the table. 
In covering the lower plate, a quick pull on the thread 
by the assistant, causes the handkerchief to be drawn 
from the servante between the two plates. As in the 
vanishing of the handkerchief, the assistant does not 
manipulate the thread until the two plates are nearly 
together. 

As the handkerchief, which has appeared by this 
means, cannot be removed from the plate, unless the per- 
former breaks or cuts the thread, it will be as well to use 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 15 

a double thread, passed through the handkerchief and 
consisting of one thread only, being free fr(^m knots. 
Both ends of this thread are in possession of the assistant, 
who after pulling the handkerchief between the plates, 
simply drops one of the ends of the thread and draws 
in the thread by means of pulling on the other end. By 
this process the thread is pulled entirely out of the hand- 
kerchief. 



THE HANDKERCHIEF COLORING TRICK. 

Readers of "The Modern Wizard'* will remember 
the trick of passing three white handkerchiefs successively 
through a paper tube, and thereby causing them to 
become red, orange and blue. 

The simple trick that I am about to describe will 
serve admirably as an introduction to the former, more 
pretentious trick. 

The conjurer shows three handkerchiefs, two white 
ones and a blue one which, if he desires, he may produce 
by magical means. Out of a small sheet of white paper he 
then forms a cylinder and proceeds to push the first white 
handkerchief into the low^er end of the latter. Undercover 
of the white handkerchief he has picked up a fourth, blue 
handkerchief at the same time and secretly introduces 
this into the cylinder previous to the white one. The act 
of pushing the white handkerchief into the cylinder, for- 
ces the blue one out at the upper end of the latter, the 
color of the white handkerchief bjing apparently changed 



1 6 LATTER DAY TRICKS, 

during the transit. Placing down the blue handkerchief, 
the performer takes the other one of the same color and 
inserts it in the cylinder, causing it to become white by 
apparently pushing it through. The white handkerchiefs 
is then inserted and becomes blue. In pushing this, the 
last handkerchief through, the performer follows it up 
with his hand, gaining possession of and palming the 
white handkerchief in this act. The paper tube hereby 
becomes unrolled and is allowed to drop on the floor. 
The conjurer, who now has two blue and one white hand- 
kerchief, then proceeds with the rest of the trick as de- 
scribed in The Modern Wizard. 



HANDKERCHIEF PRODUCTIONS, 
CONTINUED FROM THE MODERN WIZARD." 

TWELFTH METHOD. 

The plan used in this form of the ever popular hand- 
kerchief producing trick, is a very simple one and is 
especially suitable for the successive production of 
handkerchiefs of one color, as for instance the three 
white handkerchiefs used in ''The New Changing Hand- 
kerchiefs." 

For this purpose the conjurer places one white hand- 
kerchief in his left sleeve and the other one in his right 
sleeve, in a manner as to allow one corner of each hand- 
kerchief to lie near the cuff, where it is not noticed, but 
from where it may be obtained with comparative ease. 

After having produced a third white handkerchief in 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 1 7 

any manner be fancies, the performer holding it by one 
corner with the tips of the fingers of the right hand, 
draws it several times from below through the partly 
closed left hand, the movement being a very natural one. 
After having done this, say twice, at the third time he 
seizes the protruding corner of the handkerchief concealed 
in the left sleeve and draws it out of its hiding place, 
passing it through the left hand with the other white 
handkerchief. Holding the two handkerchiefs, which to 
the audience appear to be one only, by their opposite 
corners, he breathes on them and allowing them to separ- 
ate, shows one handkerchief in each hand. 

Holding the two handkerchiefs side by side in the 
left hand, the performer draws them once or twice through 
the right hand and by using the process already described, 
produces the third handkerchief . Those of my readers 
who wish to try the experiment, will find it simple and 
easy of execution as well as perfect in deception. 

The open spaces of the vest betw^een the buttons 
may be utilized in a similar manner, except that here no 
corner of the handkerchief is allowed to protrude, a short 
black or white thread (according to whether a black or 
white vest is worn) with a knot at one end, its other end 
being fastened to a corner of the handkerchief, being 
employed instead, 

THIRTEENTH METHOD. 

This method which is very little known, has the same 
advantage as the last trick, that also no apparatus is re- 



1 8 - LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

quired. A thin silk handkercliief is wound around the 
lower end of the wand, the outward corner of the hand- 
kerchief then being tucked into one uf the folds to prevent 
the handkerchief from prematurely unrolling. The end 
of the wand is held in the left hand, while its other end 
taps the right hand, showing the latter from both sides 
and thus indicating that it is empty. The next, most 
difficult part of the trick is now at hand, for the wand 
has to be transferred from the left to the right hand with- 
out the spectators getting a glimpse of the handkerchief 
rolled around its end, but even this difficulty can be 
overcome with a little practice. The wand is then pointed 
at the extended left hand, which is also exhibited from 
either side, and which then seizes the wand and points it 
at the right hand which is closed and in which the hand- 
kerchief remained, the performer then allowing it to grad- 
ually appear. 

FOURTEENTH METHOD. 

The requirements for this trick are an ordinary, deep 
soup plate and two metal receptacles which are japanned 
white and are open on their rear side only. Their shape 
conforms to that of the soup plate, under the rear of the 
rim of which these two receptacels, each of which con- 
tains two silk handkerchiefs, are attached by means of 
adhesive wax. From where the spectators are seated, it 
is impossible to see these holders, for which the well 
known, small hand box may also be substituted. 

After having produced a handkerchief, the perform- 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. IQ 

er lays it on the plate, which he has previously taken up 
and shown empty, also casually indicating that there is 
nothing concealed in his hands. Picking, up the hand- 
kerchief, the performer carries away one of the holders 
under cover of it, then placing the hands together and 
moving them slowly up and down, works the handker- 
chiefs gradually out of the holder, allowing them to 
mingle with the one in his hand. In placing them on 
the plate, the holder, which is hidden underneath, is 
dropped on the servante and the same process is repeat- 
ed with the next holder. 

FIFTEENTH METHOD. 

This method resembles the preceeding one, an im- 
proved arrangement being however resorted to, which 
dispenses with the holders altogether, two rubber 
bands, which are stretched over the two parcels of hand- 
ke'rchiefs, being used instead. By means of a tolerably 
large pellet of wax, each parcel is stuck to the rear part 
of the lower side of the soup plate used. Otherwise the 
method of producing the handkerchiefs does not differ 
from the one used in the last trick, the only difference 
being that there are no holders to dispose of, the rubber 
bands being simply allowed to drop on the floor. By 
having only one parcel (consisting of tw^o very thin hand- 
kerchiefs, tightly rolled) attached to the lower side of the 
plate, a very neat method of production may be intro- 
duced, by using the plan employed for the production of 
paper shavings as described elsewhere in this book. 



20 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

Vide third method of "The Chameleon Paper Shavings. " 

SIXTEENTH METHOD. 

The novel device, that I am about to explain, will 
answer equally as well for the vanishing of a handkerchief 
as for its production. The advantage of the apparatus 
employed, consists of the fact that the performer has it 
always ready for use at any part of the programme, with- 
out being encumbered by it to any extent. This new 
style of pull will recommend itself to my readers, for 
the reason that the method of obtaining and getting rid 
of it, is practically indetectable. 

To the lower pointed end of a receptacle of a shape 
somewhat similar to the '*Buatier Pull" is fastened a 
short thread of strong flesh colored silk, to the lower 
end of which is then knotted a stout elastic cord on the 
end of which is made a sliding loop. To the upper open 
end of the pull is fastened a long loop of flesh colored 
silk. To prepare the apparatus for use, the sliding loop 
of the elastic is drawn tight over the front button on the 
right side of the trousers, the flesh colored loop fastened 
to the upper end of the pull is then seized, carried over 
the back of the vest and led down and out of the left coat 
sleeve, where the flesh colored loop is hooked over the 
third finger of the left hand, on which finger a ring is 
worn. The pull proper which contains a handkerchief, 
is thus brought to lie in the left coat sleeve between the 
elbow and the wTist. To produce the handkerchief, the 
right hand is first shown empty from both sides, also the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 2 1 

inside of the left hand and then its back which is kept 
turned towards the spectators. While this is being done, 
the conjurer inserts the middle finger of the right hand 
into the h^op on the left hand, lifting the loop a trifle 
and carrying the right hand forward, by which method 
the pull is drawn out of the left sleeve into the left hand. 
Both hands are now^ placed together, the handkerchief is 
produced, whereupon the right hand relea^^es the loop 
causing the pull to recede within the sleeve* 

As the vanishing of the handkerchief depends upon 
the same principle it will not be necessary to devote an\' 
space to its description. By using a hollow egg instead 
of the pull proper, a handkerchief may be apparently 
changed into an egg etc, in fact the ingenuity of my 
readers will no doubt suggest to them other uses for this 
inexpensive and novel arrangement. 



THE CHAMELEON HANDKERCHIEFS. 

After showing both hands entirely empty, the artist 
takes a green silk handkerchief, folding it into a small 
parcel, when in a second the green handkerchief becomes 
a red one, which may be freely examined. 

This trick depends upon the use of a novel pull, con- 
taining a red handkerchief, wdiich has the same shape as 
the ''Buatier Pull," being however made of green silk 
instead of metal. The pull, which in its normal state lies 
near the right arm hole of the vest, has an elastic fast- 
tened to its pointed end and is attached to the person in 
the usual manner. 



22 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

The conjurer after tucking back his sleeves and 
showing both hands empty, takes the green handkerchief, 
folding it into a small parcel, giving the latter as near as 
possible the shape and appearance of the pull, for which 
the folded handkerchief is now neatly substituted. The 
spectators still believe they see the green handkerchief 
and the performer, placing his hands together with the 
pull between them, simply works the red handkerchief 
out of its hiding place, meanwhile allowing the pull to 
fly back under the coat to its former place. 

By next employing a red pull, which contains a 
handkerchief of still another color, the performer can 
change the last red handkerchief into another color, by 
exchanging the folded red handkerchief for the second 
pull and working out the handkerchief in the same man- 
ner. In fact several different colored pulls containing 
handkerchiefs of other colors may be used, thereby per- 
mitting the conjurer to change a handkerchief several 
times into any color desired by the spectators. For the 
successful performance of this trick, the performer must 
however be able to use his chances properly and to a 
certain extent force upon the spectators the color of the 
next handkerchief. As it generally happens, when the 
spectators are requested to call out a color, several per- 
sons - will respond, one will exclaim ''black" another 
"blue" etc. The conjurer simply accepts such colors 
that correspond with the color of his pulls and their con- 
tents and proceeds accordingly. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 2 3 

THE NEW GORDIAN KNOTS. 

Six or more silk handkerchiefs of different colors 
are handed to the company with the request to tie the 
handkerchiefs together IN ANY MANNER THEY DESIRE, 
the only condition being that the handkercliiefs shall form 
along chain. To make the feat still more difficult the 
spectators, if they desire, can sew through the various 
knots making them practically impossible to open. 

The handkerchiefs arc, then handed to the performer, 
who placing them on an ordinary chair and waving his 
wand over them, in a few moments causes all the hand- 
kerchiefs to become instantly separated. 

The secret of this very mysterious and novel trick, 
the effect of which surpasses the pretty and justly pop- 
nlar '^Vanishing Knots" is a simple one, depending 
merely upon an adroit substitution made on the perfor- 
mer's way to the stage, of the handkerchiefs tied by the 
audience for another set of exactly similar appearance tied 
together previous to the performance. This change, like 
many other similar changes is made under the coat, and 
requires no further explanation. The substituted hand 
kerchiefs are fastened together b\^ the well known slip 
knots, which can be opened easily, while the performer 
places the handkerchiefs, one after the other, upon the 
seat of the chair. Those of my readers who are capable 
of performing ''The Vanishing Knots" as fully explained 
by Mr. Edwin Sachs in his excellent work "Sleight of 
Hand" will have no difficulty in mastering this perhaps 
still more effective feat. 



24 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

SECOND METHOD. 

x\fter the handkerchiefs are tied together by the 
audience in the same manner as in the last trick, they are 
dropped into a hat held by the performer, who never 
touclies the handkerchiefs, places the hat on the seat 
of the chair and by simply waving his w^and over the hat, 
cause the handkerchiefs to become instantly separated. 

Here also a substitution has taken place, this trick 
however depending upon the hat, which is a prepaied one, 
containing a movable partition, which is constructed as 
follows; To the center of an oval shaped piece of card 
board of the same size as the inner side of the crow^n of 
the hat is hinged a half oval piece of card board, both 
being covered with the same material that the hat is lined 
with. This contrivance is placed in the hat, the oval 
card board being next to the crown, the half aval 
piece hinged to it, lies folded against one of the sides of 
the hat. Under it is hidden a set of separate handker- 
chiefs, similar in size and color to those tied together by 
the spectators. 

The knotted handkerchiefs are collected in the hat 
as explained. The half oval partition is then folded 
against the other side of the hat and now covers the 
knotted handkerchiefs, exposing in their stead the sepa- 
rate ones. By holding the partition in place with one of 
the fingers of the hand holding the hat, the conjurer 
after waving his wand over the latter, simply turns it up- 
side down and allows the separated handkerchiefs to 
drop out on the chair. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 25 

If instead of the performer's own hat a borrowed 
one is used, a way must be employed for loading in and 
subsequently disposing of the changing partition. Per- 
forming some other trick with the hat before introducing 
the present trick, will furnish an excuse to take the hat 
for an instant behind the scenes, ostensibly to brush it off, 
but in reality furnishing the opportunity to load the par- 
titions and handkerchiefs into it, which may afterwards 
be dropped into a bag servante concealed behind the 
chair used during the trick. 



THE VANISHING HANDKERCHIEF. 

A very simple but neat manner of causing a small 
silk handkerchief to disappear is the following one, 
The performer rolls or rather folds the handkerchief 
into as small a compass as possible and secretly slips over 
it a small rubber band, which he had concealed in his 
hand. Fastened to the rubber band is a loop of hair or 
fine catgut, the loop being about two itiches in diametc r. 
The performer next secretly inserts the thumb or first 
finger of the right hand into the loop and under pretense 
of rubbing the handkerchief with the left hand, pushes 
it, under cover of this movement, over the back of the 
right hand where it hangs unperceived by the spectators. 
The hands can then be shown quite empty, the hand- 
kerchief having apparently disappeared in a mxsterious 
way. Of course the back of the hand is not show n. 

If the artist possesses sufficient skill, he can cause 



26 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the handkerchief to swing unseen from the back of the 
hand over to the inside of the latter and can thus cas- 
ually how both sides of either hand empty, thus prov- 
ing siill more conclusively that the handkerchief is not 
in any way concealed about his hands. 



THE THREE COLORED HANDKERCHIEFS, 

The following trick although not of sufficient import- 
ance to be introduced as a separate trick, may however 
be effectively combined with other tricks in which several 
handkerchiefs of different colors are used. We will 
suppose that the magicia \ has just produced or performed 
some trick with a red, a white and a blue handkerchief. 
A spectator is then requested to blindfold the performer 
and then to place the three handkerchiefs in the inside 
coat pocket of the performer, who now states that, 
although bliiidfolded, he will instantly produce any one 
of the three handkerchiefs from his pocket. The specta- 
tors name the color of handkerchief they desire him to 
produce whereupon the artist inserts his hand in his 
pocket and smilingly produces the chosen handkerchief, 
immediately repeating the process with the remaining 
ones. 

The explanation of the trick is extremely simple. 
Under the performers vest, near the armholes, are previ- 
ously placed three duplicate handkerchiefs, in a prearrang- 
ed order. Instead of taking the desired handkerchief 
out of his pocket, the performer simply takes it out of his 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 2^ 

vest. Of course more than three handkerchiefs can bo 
used if desired, in fact it will be best to perform the feat 
with say half a dozen handkerchiefs of different colors. 



THE NEW TORN AND RESTORED HANDKERCHIEF. 

After having performed some trick with a borrowed 
handkerchief, the performer accidently spreads it over his 
knee and is horrified to discover a large, plainly visible 
hole in its center. Upon being being assured by the 
owner of the handkerchief, that said hole did not exist 
at the time the handkerchief was borrowed, the conjurer 
is compelled to resort to his potent art and with just a 
wave of his wand, ciuses the handkerchief to become 
whole again, immediately returning it to its owner who 
upon close scrutiny fails to find any trace of the hole 
which he and the company beheld there a moment ago. 

This easily accomplished feat depends upon the use 
of a piece of thin metal cut into the shape of a hole and 
then covered with the same material that the performer's 
trousers consist of. By means of a fine hook, soldered 
to the back of the *'fake'* the latter is secretly attached to 
the center of the borrowed handkerchief, which is then 
spread over the knee as described and appears to contain 
a large hole. To repair the damage, the ''fake" is 
secretly palmed off, the handkerchief is then given a tap 
with the wand and the trick is done. 



2S LATTER DAY TRICKS. 



HANDKERCHIEF AND ENVELOPE. 



A marked envelope, which may be a borrowed one, 
is shown empty and after being sealed shut, by one of 
the spectators is handed to the performer, who first 
causes a silk handkerchief to disappear and after showing 
his hands to be perfectly empty, tears off the end of tlie 
marked envelope and extracts from it the previously van- 
ished handkerchief. 

As the vanishing of the handkerchief can take place in 
a'ly manner the conjurer fancies, only the appearance of 
tlie handkerchief in the closed envelope remains to be 
explained. Previous to the performance, a duplicate 
handkerchief is folded in zigzag fashion and held together 
by a small rubber band slipped over it, to which is 
attached a small pellet of adhesive wax. The handker- 
chief thus prepared is placed on the servante or in the con- 
jurer's pochette. While the envelope is still in the hands 
of the audience, the performer vanishes the first silk 
h mdkerchief and after having done this, secretly obtains 
possession of the folded, prepared handkerchief, which he 
adroitly attaches to the rear side of the envelope, which 
has in the meantime been handed to him. The perfor- 
mer can now show both hands empty, holding the enve- 
lope by the finger tips only, of course being careful not 
to expose its back with the attached handkerchief to the 
view of the spectators. Finally he tears off" one end of 
the envelope, introduces the second, third and fourth fin- 
gers into it, while with the thumb and first finger he appar- 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 29 

ently pulls the handkerchief out of the envelope, but real- 
ly out of the rubber band on its back. The rubber band is 
then detached and allowed to drop on the floor, the con- 
jurer being now at liberty to pass the envelope once more 
for inspection. 



THE HANDKERCHIEF PRODUCED FROM A CARD, 

A trick resembling the one just described, the 
production of a vanished handkerchief from a selected 
card. 

For this the performer requires a small pear shaped 
box, which is flat on the top and bottom. By means of 
an opening situated at the pointed end of the box, a thin 
silk handkerchief is pushed into the latter, which is then 
vested. A card is selected and while it is being shown, the 
performer obtains possession of and palms the small flesh 
colored box, secretly placing it pointed end downwards, 
on the back of the selected card. The fingers of the 
disengaged hand then seize the corner of the handker- 
chief, which protrudes a trifle from the opening of the 
box and gradually pull the handkerchief out of its hiding 
place. The box is then disposed of and the card passed 
out for examination. 



THE NEWEST BILLIARD BALL TRICK. 

The principle upon which this trick I am about to 
describe, is based is somewhat similar to the one used in 



30 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the billard ball trick explained on pa^e lo of "The 
Modern Wizard'* bat the manner in which the trick is 
performed, makes it far superior to all other methods. 

Three solid billard balls and a half shell, all of which 
are enamelled red, are used. Two of the solids balls and 
the half shell are concealed under the right side of the 
vest, while the third remaining ball is vested on the other 
side. 

The performer comtnences the trick by showing ihe 
back and inside of the right hand, at the same time pull- 
ing up the right coat sleeve with the left hand, the latter 
hand is then shown empty, the right hand pulling up the 
left coat sleeve in the meantime. While during this last 
act the right hand is brought forward to do this, it passes 
the lower edge of the vest and quickly obtains and palms 
the ball vested on the left side. Both hands having thus 
been shown empty and the sleeves pulled up a trifle, the 
right hand reaches into the air and produces the billard 
ball that was palmed in it, immediatly transferring it to 
the left hand; The performer's left side having in the 
meantime been turned towards the audience, thus giving 
him the necessary opportunity to palm the half shell with 
his right hand, which is immediatly passed over the ball 
in the left hand, and leaves the half shell on the ball held 
in that hand. As one ball only is visible in both hands, 
no one pays any particular attention to the last sleight 
upon the successful execution of whicli the entire trick 
is based. The empty right hand now covers the ball in 
the left hand and under pretense of squeezing it, slips off 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 3 1 

the shell and up 3n removal of the right hand, two balls 
i. e. one solid one and the half shell are seen in the left 
hand. While the attention of the spectators is drawn to 
this hand, the performer palms another solid ball and 
secretly slips it under the shell in the left hand. This 
movement if properly executed does not look suspicious, 
as one would surmise in reading the explanation, especi- 
ally as after the sleight, the balls in the left hand still 
present the same appearance as before. To prove that 
the tw^o visible balls are solid ones, the performer knocks 
them together, replacing them in the left hand, and 
squeezing them once more, under cover of the movement 
slipping off the half shell and a moment later showing 
three balls in the left hand. Meanwhile the conjurer has 
obtained and palmed the remaining vested ball and 
secretly slipped it under the half shell, being now^ at liberty 
to knock the three balls together, to prove they are solid 
ones. Replacing them in the left hand and passing the 
right with a downward movement over them, the perform- 
er allows the ball with the half shell to slip out from behind 
the latter and to drop Into the palm of the passing right 
hand, which immediately vests the ball or drops it into the 
profonde. As the position of the balls in the left hand 
seemingly remains unaltered, no suspicion is created. 
Under cover of the right hand, the half shell is now slip- 
ped over one of the solid balls and upon separation of 
the hands only two balls are seen which are knocked 
together. Again the process is repeated, of passing the 
right hand over the balls and palming out the onecovered 



32 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

by the half shell, the palmed ball being instantly 
made away with and the two balls in the left hand are 
then reduced to one solid ball, which is allowed to drop 
on the floor, the shell remaining palmed. The dropping 
of the ball enables the performer to get rid of the shell 
and all that remains to be done is to vanish the remaining 
ball by means of the pass or dropping it into the profonde 
under pretense of tossing it into the air. 

To make the trick still "stronger*' as is is called in 
conjurer's parlance, the shell may be palmed off every 
time the number of balls increases and decreases. The 
balls can then tossed out for examination at the 
various stages of the trick, thus proving to all intents 
and purposes, that the conjurer operates with solid un- 
prepared balls only. 

The author hopes, that this billard ball trick, which 
he has tried and tested thoroughly, will find favor in the 
eyes of his readers on account of the several vast advan- 
tages it possesses over other perhaps more expensive 
billard ball productions and vanishes. 



THE FAIRY TUBE AND BALL. 

As there are various, entirely dififerent plans in 
use for accomplishing this trick, the author has decided 
to explain the principal ones only, at the same time leav- 
ing it to the reader, to select for his own use the method 
he likes best. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 33 



FIRST METHOD. 



The requirements are a nickel plated tube of thin 
metal, of twelve inches in height and nearly two inches 
in diam.eter, a separate lid or cap to fit the top of the 
tube, a socket, turned out of wood for the lower end of 
the tube to fit in and two billiard balls, enamelled red, of 
sufficient size to just pass through the nickelled tube. 

One of the billiard balls is kept concealed in the left 
hand while the other parts of the trick i. e. tube, cap, 
socket and second ball are given for examination. After 
receiving them back, the cap and socket are placed on 
the table and the performer now proceeds to repeatedly 
drop the billiard ball, with the right hand into the upper 
end of the tube, through which it passes and is caught 
with the same hand, coming out of the other end. Ih's 
is repeated several times untill suddenly, when tlie ball 
has just been dropped into the tube, the performer by 
squeezing the lower end of the latter, retains the b.ill in 
the tube and drops in its stead the ball palmed in the 1, ft 
hand. This sleight is to be practiced diligently until it 
looks sufficiently deceptive. Still continuing to com- 
press the lower end of the tube, the performer places it 
on the wooden socket and after the cap is placed on, 
gives the apparatus to someone to hold. The billiard 
ball is now vanished and commanded to pass into the 
tube, which upon being opened by the person holding it, 
is found to contain the ball. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 



SECOND METHOD. 



In this version of the trick, a vast improvement on the 
last method is introduced. The lower end of the tube is 
bent into an elliptical shape; the balls used being just a 
shade smaller than the inside of the tube. It therefore 
follows that a ball dropped into its upper end would 
stick in the lower elliptically shaped end. Upon this fact 
the trick is based. One of the balls is kept palmed in 
the left hand, as in the last method, while the tube is 
seized with the same hand by its lower end, the fingers 
of this hand exercising sufficient pressure on the two 
widest points of the ellipse, causing it to become a circle, 
thus allowing the other ball to be dropped in repeatedly 
with the right hand and to pass freely through. At the 
proper moment, w4ien the -ball has just been dropped 
into the upper end of the tube, the performer relaxes the 
pressure of the left hand, whereby the lower end of the 
tube to resume its former shape, causing the ball to stick 
in the tube, the palmed ball being dropped instead. The 
tube, which may now be lifted at its upper end without 
fear of the ball dropping out, is now placed on the 
socket or, if preferred, the latter may be discarded alto- 
gether and the tube simply placed on the table. The 
visible ball is now caused to disappear and is found under 
the tube, it being however necessary to compress the 
lower end of the latter when lifting it, in order to release 
the ball. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 3 5 

A further effect may next be introduced by secretly 
dropping the previously vanished ball, which we will sup- 
p:)se has beea palmed, into the tube, ia which it sticks. 
The performer then, as if to illustrate what has occurred, 
places tlie lower end of the tube over the ball on the 
table, squeezing the tube while doing so. The tube now^ 
contains two balls, the upper one of which is next allow^ed 
to loll out of its upper end, while the other ball, i. e., the 
one that was just seen lying on the table, remains stick- 
ing in the tube. For the benefit of those that did not 
see how the trick was done, the conjurer offers to repeat 
the experiment by once more vanishing the visible ball 
and finding it under the tube. 

To facilitate the finding of the proper points of the 
ellipse on which pressure is to be exercised, two small 
raised points, which are easily found by the finger tips, 
are made on the outside of the tube. 

THIRD METHOD. 

The inside of the tube used in this method contains 
four small projections, consisting of dabs of solder, whicli 
are situated in the middle of the tube. These piojeciions 
are rubbed down smooth with fine emery cloth, allow ing 
the tube thus prepared to stand a tolerably close inspec- 
tion. Two balls are used, b )th of which are of the same 
diameter as the unrestricted parts of the tube, but w hen 
dropped into the latter, will be caught and prevented 
from passing through by the slight projections on the 
inside. 



36 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

One of the balls, as usual, is concealed in the left 
hand, and after the tube has been inspected the artist 
secretly places its lower end over the left palmed ball. 
The reinaining ball is then dropped into the upper end 
of the tube with the right hand, causing the ball to stick 
iii the center. The last named hand then lifts the tube 
and shows the ball lying on the palm, it having appar- 
ently passed through. 

Turning the tube upside down, which may be done 
without fear of the concealed ball dropping out, the per- 
former seizes its lower end with the left hand, the tube 
being clear of the palm, and drops the visible ball once 
more into the upper end. The hidden ball is thereby 
forced out, the other ball remaining in the tube, which 
is now placed upside down on the table, the performer 
giving it a slight knock while placing it down, causing the 
b.iU to drop down inside of the tube. The remaining 
ball is now vanished and is subsequently discovered 
under the tube by a spectator, who has been requested 
to lift it. 

If desired, a third ball, which is a shade smaller than 
the other two and which passes freely through the tube, 
may be employed. The ball found under the tube is 
adroitly exchanged for this one, permitting the performer 
to pass tube and ball for inspection. Anyone who 
desires can then pass the ball through the tube and 
remain still in the dark as to the true secret of the 
trick. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 37 

THE NEW GLASS VASE AND APPEARING BALLS. 

The performer introduces a large goblet-shaped glass 
vase with cov^er, the same kind that is used for the dis- 
play of candy in most confectionery stores. Over the 
vase is placed a borrowed handkerchief and its cover is 
then put on. Placing a number of parti colored balls in a 
box (drawer box) the performer causes them to disappear 
and appear in the glass vase. 

The construction of the draw^er box and the vanish- 
ing of the balls by this means being familiar to my 
advanced reader, I shall confine myself to the explana- 
tion of the appearance of the balls in the covered glass 
vase, which in itself is free from trickery. 

Previous to the performance a quantity of spring 
balls are pressed together and tied crosswise with a strong, 
black thread. The thread is tied by one knot and a 
loop, which when opened causes the balls to become 
released. By means of this loop the parcel of balls is 
suspended on two headless nails driven in the rear edge 
of the table top. Tiiese nails are about four inches apart 
and are in line with each other One end of the thread 
which surrounds the balls is cut off short, a knot being 
made in its end to prevent the loop from opening before 
the proper time, while the other long end of the thread is 
secured to a sm:ill screw eye fastened in the floor. After 
having borrow^ed the handkerchief, the performer spreads 
it out on the table, allowing a small portion of it to hang 
down over the rear edge of the latter. He then intro- 



38 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

duces the vase and cover, freely showing them around. 
In picking up the handkercliief he introduces the first 
finger of each hand in the loop beliind the table and hold- 
ing the handkerchief with the balls suspended behind it, 
spread it out in front of his person, deftly allowing the par- 
cel to slide into the vase under cover of the handkei chief. 
The cover of the vase is next put on, and holding the 
latter by cover and foot, the conjurer goes forward with 
it, ostensibly to place it on a chair or table. By this 
process the thread fastened to the floor and tied around 
the balls is drawn taut, causing the loop to be opened, 
the balls expanding and filling the vase. 



HANDKERCHIEF LEMON AND GLASS, 

The performer exhibits an empty glass goblet, into 
which he places a small silk handkerchief, then covering 
the glass with another larger handkerchief. After hav- 
ing produced a lemon by magical means, he borrows a 
hat and drops the lernon visibly into the latter. He next 
states that he is going to cause the articles to change 
places, and upon removing the handkerchief from the 
glass, the lemon instead of the handkerchief is found in 
the latter, while in the hat the lemon is discovered. 
After this has been done, the performer obligingly offers 
to repeat the experiment for the benefit of those that did 
not see the pretended serial voyage of the lemon and 
handkerchief. He takes the handkerchief, which still 
remained in his hand and by rubbing it, causes it to 



LATTER BAY TRICKS. 39 

change into the lemon, and going to the glass, which he 
has in the meantime covered again, shows that the hand- 
kerchief has appeared there. 

The glass used is the so-called Celery glass of polygon 
shape, in the center of which are placed back to back two 
mirrors in a vertical position. Both mirrors fit snugly in 
the glass, which thereby is divided into two compart- 
ments of equal size. Only the front compartment, which 
is left empty, is shown during the first part of the trick. 
Although the spectators see but the one compartment 
only, the reflection of half of the glass in the mirror 
causes the illusion as if they were looking into a com- 
plete, entirely empty glass. On the mirror of the rear 
compartment, which side is not showr. to tlie spectators 
until later on, is glued half an artificial lemon, made out 
of paper mache or wood; this is reflected in the mirror 
and the glass, viewed from this side, appears to contain 
an entire lemon. 

The performer commences the trick by placing the 
silk haidkerchief into the front compartment of the 
glass, covering the latter with a borrowed handkerchief, 
and secretly turning the glass around in the act of replac- 
ing it Oil the table, so that upon uncoveiing the glass the 
side containing the lemon will be exposed to view. He 
then produces from his wand a lemon, which is a hollow^ 
one with a hole in its side like the well known hollow 
egg. He ne.xt borrows a hat, and \^hile placing it on a 
chair or table secretly introduces into it a duplicate liand- 



40 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

kerchief which he had vested and then visij3ly drops the 
lemon into the hat. A change of the position of the two 
articles is now commanded to take place *and occurs as 
explained. In finding the handkerchief in the hat, the 
performer picks up the lemon under cover c^f it, and after 
having stated his intention of repeating the trick, places 
the hands together and while waving them np and down 
works the handkerchief into the lemon, which is then 
exhibited and placed opening downwards upon the table. 
In the glass, which recently contained the lemon and 
w^hich the performer has turned around in the mean- 
time, the missing handkerchief is duly found. 

A still better effect than the last may be produced 
by using a lady's borrowed handkerchief instead of the 
small silk one; the performer using care in borrowing a 
handkerchief of nearly the same size and appearance 
as a duplicate one of his own. 

Instead of using the orthodox method of forcing the 
handkerchief into the lemon while moving the hands up 
and down, the author takes pleasure to make his readers 
acquainted with a much superior and newer manner of 
producing the same result. We will suppose that the 
prepared lemon is concealed in the right hand, over which 
the performer now^ spreads the handkerchief, pushing its 
center a trifle into the hole of the lemon. Next placing 
the left hand over this, he moves the lemon witli the 
right hand in circular fashion, pressing firml}' against the 
left, whereby, as will be found, the handkerchief grows 



LATfER DAV TRICKS. 4 1 

rapidly and visibl\^ smaller on all sides, twisting itself 
completely into the lemon. A single tiial on tiie part of 
my reader will convince him of the superiority of this 
sleight, which will be found equally advantageous in con- 
nection with the hollow egg and billiard ball. 



THE NEW EGG AND HANDKERCHIEF TRICK. 

After showing both hands empty, the performer 
picks up a silk handkerchief, and holding it by one hand 
only, shakes it, when suddenly the handkerchief is seen 
to change into a genuine unprepared egg, which is at 
once passed for inspection. The entire preparation nec- 
essary for the trick consists of the proper adjustment of a 
thread pull worn by the performer. As this same thread 
pull is much used by European conjurers instead of metal 
and spring pulls, a detailed description of the arrange- 
ment will, I hope, prove acceptable to my readers. 

At one end of a thin, but strong black thread, the 
performer makes a sliding loop, which he hooks ovtr 
b )th buttons of the right cuff. The thread is then led 
from here up the right sleeve, over the back of the vest, 
then to and through the opening of the left suspendei-, 
and from there to the right trouser button, to which it is 
fastened. The length of the thread is so adjusted that 
the right arm can move freely, in fact there ought to be 
some slack in that portion of the thread between the 
ricrht and left trouser buttons. 



42 LATTER DaV TRICKS. 

To perform the above named tiick, the conjurer has 
placed a genuine egg on a very small wire servante of an 
elliptical shape, the servante being fastened to the back 
of a chair or cigar box. After exhibiting the handker- 
chief, he places it for a moment over the back of the chair 
or cigar box, to show that he has nothi ig else concealed 
in his hands, then seizing the handkerchief and picking 
up the egg at the same time. He next secretly detaches 
the loop from his right cuff buttons and places it over the 
center of the handkerchief under which the egg lies con- 
cealed. With the left hand he obtains possession of the 
slack portion of the thread and gives a quick, sharp pull, 
by which process the handkerchief is instantly drawn up 
the sleeve, the egg, which remains in the hand, thereby 
becoming exposed to view. With a little practice this 
instantaneous and pretty change will be found a very 
effective one. 

The thread pull may be employed in the * 'Vanishing 
Glove Trick," "The Visible Disappearance of a Hand- 
kerchief out of a Decanter," and in numerous other 
tricks in which handkerchiefs are to be vanished np the 
sleeve. 



THE NEW VANISHING EGGS, 

At'ter having magically produced a number of eggs, 
the artist places them in a borrowed hat which he covers 
with another hat, also borrowed. The eggs are now 
commanded to disappear and after removing the upper 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 43 

hat, the lower one, which contained the e^gs, is found to 
be perfectly empty. B.)th hats are then returned to their 
owners. 

After borrowing the hats, the performer secretly 
introduces in the lower one a hair net wTiich he had 
palmed. In the outer edge of the net is run a stout 
thread or fine cord, one end of which is tied into a slid- 
ing loop around the thread proper, so that by drawing 
on the other end of the thread, which is allowed to rest 
on the brim of the hat. the net ma\^ be closed like a bag. 
While placing the first egg into the hat, or rather into 
the net, the perf(M-mer spreads the latter out and places 
all the eggs into it. When this is done, he draws the 
string taut, thereb}- clcjsing the net, and then places the 
second hat, mouth dow^n wards, upon the lower one. In 
removing the upper hat a few moments later, he seizts it 
by the rear of the brim, at the same time obtaining pos- 
session of the thread, then lifting the upper hat so that its 
opening is turned toward himself. The net containing 
the eggs is thereby removed from the lower hat and new 
lies concealed in the upper one, out of which it is secretly 
dropped into a bag servante. 

Instead of covering the lower hat with another hat, 
a handkerchief may be used instead of the latter. The 
secret removal of the eggs is performed in the very same 
manner, while the dropping of the net out of the hand- 
kerchief is easier nnd perhaps more natural than if a hat 
were used. 



44 . LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

THE DISAPPEARING EGG. 

A clev^er vanish for an egg, w hich will be found of 
good assistance in "The Egg and Bag Trick" and other 
tricks where it is required to vanish an egg, is performed 
in the following manner: 

A blown egg is sewn up in a black silk bag which is 
made to fit tightly around the egg. To the upper end of 
this bag is attached a black thread of about fifteen inches 
in length, whose other end is fastened near the right arm 
hole of the vest. The egg thus prepared is then vested. 
After borrowing a handkerchief and allowing a real, pre- 
ferably boiled egg to be examined, the performer, by 
slightly contracting the abdomen, causes the prepared 
egg to drop out from under tlie vest, allowing it to hang 
unpei'ceived behind the handkerchief, which he has 
spread out in front of his person. In pk;cing the right 
hand, which contains the real egg, behind the handker» 
cbief, the prepared egg is seized at the same time and 
placed in the center of the handkerchief, while the real 
egg is kept concealed in the right hand. Holding the 
egg from the outside of the handkerchief with one hand, 
the performer taps it with the wand to prove that it is 
actually there. Seizing one corner of the handkerchief, 
the conjurer states that he will cause it to vanish and 
appear in the bag (or other apparatus) previously sho\vn 
empty. Suddenly he releases his hold on the egg, which 
apparently disappears instantly. The conjurer, who has 
continued to hold one corner of the handkerchief, imme- 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 45 

diately spreads the latter out and shows it from both 
sides. The prepared egg which is swinging in front of 
the performer's body is not noticed, and is again vested 
at the first opportunity, the performer running his fingers 
along the thread, thereby regaining possession of the egg. 



THE BALANCED EGGS, 

FIRST METHOD. 

A pretty effect during the performance of some 
trick in which eggs are used, is created by taking several 
of the eggs and after placing them on top of one another 
then balancing them in this fashion. The performer then 
takes one egg after the other down and shows that there 
w^as no connection of any kind between them. 

The eggs that are used during this trick require some 
slight preparation, a small hole having been made in each 
c.ggy through which its contents have been extracted. 
The empty shells are then rinsed and placed aside for a 
day or two in order to allow them to become perfectly 
dry. A smooth lemonade straw is then inserted in one 
of the holes of each shell, being then pushed through and 
allowed to issue from the other hole. Where shell and 
straw meet, a little dab of w^hite glue is put on and after 
the latter is dry, the protruding ends of the straw are 
very carefully cut off with a sharp knife. The performer 
has thus obtained a number of blown eggs, each of wTiich 
contains a hidden tube. After having produced these 



46 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

eggs in any manner he fancies, the performer takes the 
first egg and secretly introduces into the bottom hole a 
thin but stiff wire, the largest part of which is concealed 
in his sleeve. In placing the second egg on top of the 
first one, he continues to push up the wire, which after 
passing through the tube in the lower egg, enters the 
tube of the next one and thus keeps the latter balanced 
on the lower egg. In this manner the performer con- 
tinues to place more eggs on, until a sufficiently high 
pyramid of them is reached, the wire being gradually 
pushed up. It will hardly be necessary to state that in 
performing the feat due care must be exercised in not 
allowing the wire to protrude too early from the upper 
hole of the topmost egg. 

The eggs are then one after the other taken down, 
the wire being gradually withdrawn and allowed to 
recede within the sleeve, from where it is afterwards dis- 
posed of by dropping it on the servante. 

While doing the trick, the conjurer pretends that it is 
a very difficult one, copying in his actions as nearly as 
possible the manner of a real juggler. 

SECOND METHOD. 

In this version of the trick, the wire in the sleeve is 
dispensed with, the magician building up the eggs on the 
very tip of his wand, which, as my reader has already 
surmised, is prepared for the purpose. It contains a 
wire of nearly the same length as the wand; this wire is 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 47 

^cured to a short pluor which travels freely back and 
forth on the inside of the wand, which is made on the 
very same plan as the Money Catching Wand. A slit of 
nearly the entire length as the wand is cut or filed into 
the latter, allowing a small screw to be inserted from the 
outside of the wand into the plug. By pushing this 
screw back aud forth in the slit, the wire fastened to the 
plug can thereby be caused to protrude from the top of 
the wand and also to recede within the latter at the per- 
former's option. In the upper end of the wand, which 
had best be a metal one, japanned black, is drilled a 
small hole, allowing free passage of the wire. The rest 
of the trick needs no further explanation, the modus 
operandi being similar to the one in the preceding 
method. 



THE VANISHING COIN TUBE, 

The apparatus of this title is a clever and inexpen- 
sive device which will recommend itself to my readers on 
account of its very simplicity and the fact that the tube 
may be examined before and after the trick. 

The tube is a nickel plated one with a bottom, which 
however is inserted at a trifling distance from the lower 
end of the tube, the exact distance being the height of a 
half dollar. The inside of the tube is of the same diam- 
eter as that of a half dollar and will just accommodate 
eight of them. In introducing the trick, the performer 
first passes the cylinder for inspection and after receiving 



48 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

it back secretly attaches to the sunken bottom a half dol- 
lar which is waxed on one side and which the performer 
had palmed. Eight half dollars are then borrowed and 
are placed in the open end of the tube, exactly filling it. 
A lady is now requested to spread her handkerchief on a 
tray handed her by the performer, who places the tube 
in the center of the handkerchief. While she spreads out 
the handkerchief, the conjurer has ample opportunity to 
turn the cylinder upside down, so that the single half 
dollar stuck to its bottom is now uppermost. In placing 
the cylinder on the handkerchief, the eight borrowed 
coins remain palmed in the hand The four corners of 
the handkerchief are now gathered up around the C3^1in- 
der and the lady is then requested to hold the handker- 
chief in this fashion. In lifting up the handkerchief the 
cylinder inside of it will fall over, because it is top heavy, 
and upon opening the handkerchief a moment later at the 
performer's request, the lady will see the empty tube 
only, from the bottom of which the attached half dollar 
is then secretly removed, leaving the tube once more 
ready for inspection. 

The reappearance of the vanished marked half dol- 
lars can take place in any manner the performer sees fit, 
as there are numerous cleverly constructed pieces of 
apparatus that can be used for the purpose. 

A simple way is to borrow a hat, holding it in the 
same hand in which the coins are palmed, while the other 
hand, which contains the half dollar detaclied from the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 49 

tube, makes believe to magically extract a coin from the 
handkerchief enveloping the tube. This coin is appar- 
ently thrown into the hat, in reality though it is palmed, 
while the hand holding the hat drops one of the palmed 
marked half dollars into it. This is repeated as many 
times as there are coins palmed, the " coins being then 
returned to their owners and duly identified b_\' them. 

COINS, HAT, PLATE AND GLASS, 

The performer borrows two hats, silk ones if possi- 
ble, and la\'s one of them, opening upwards, upon the 
table. Into this hat he places an empty tumbler and theri 
covers the hat w ith an ordinary dinner plate, on top of 
which he pla::es the other hat, also opening upwards. 
Into this hat is introduced a second empty tumbler into 
which are audibly dropped eight borrowed half dollars. 
The half dollars are now commanded to leave the tumbler 
in the upper hat and to appear in the lower one, which 
they instantly do, for when a spectator at the performer's 
request looks into the upper hat, he finds the tumbler 
contained in the latter empty, while after removing the 
upper hat and plate he discovers the coins in the previ- 
ously empty tumbler according to the performer's state- 
ment. 

Besides the tumblers and plate, the conjurer is 
provided with a smaller tumbler, which is concealed n 
the right trouser pocket or profonde and also with eight 
half dollars of his own, which are lying in a pile on the 
servante. 



so LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

After the hats are borrowed the performer obtains 
possession of these last coins, palming them in the right 
hand. Seizing the first tumbler with the left hand and 
showing it empty, he transfers it to the right liand, the 
fingers of which he places on the inside of the glass, the 
thumb being left on the outside. In placing the glass 
into the hat, he lets the coins glide noiselessly to the bot- 
tom of the tumbler, for this purpose pressing the coins 
firmly against the sides of the latter and carefully push- 
ing them down until the bottom of the glass is reached, 
at which place the coins are allowed to remain without 
their position being altered. 

The lower hat is then covered by the plate and other 
hat, in which the remaining tumbler has been placed. 
The borrowed coins are then picked up with the right 
hand and apparently transferred to the left one by means 
of the pass, which leaves them palmed in the right hand. 
The closed left hand is introduced in the upper hat and 
seemingly counts the coins, one at a time, into the glass 
contained in the latter, but in reality the performer, with 
the right hand, drops them in the same tempo as he 
counts, into the small tumbler concealed in his right 
trouser pocket, of course turning his left side toward the 
audience while doing so. The deception is so perfect 
that no one suspects that the coins are not actuall}' 
counted into the glass in the upper hat, from where they 
subsequently disappear and are found in the lower hat as 
already described. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 5 1 

THE HAT. GLASS AND COINS. 

The following new and very pretty coin trick will no 
doubt become a favorite with every magician, as it is a 
very simple and effective feat which requires no prepara- 
tion whatever and therefore can be perfoimed anywhere. 

A borrowed derby hat is placed, crown downw^ards, 
upon the mouth of an ordinary tumbler. Three half dol- 
lars are borrowed, one of which is selected and marked. 
The conjurer takes the three coins and without touching 
either hat or glass, drops them into the latter, when the 
selected coin is seen to apparently penetrate the hat, 
dropping visibly and audibly into the glass underneath, 
while in the hat are found the two coins only. The 
marked coin is taken out of the glass and returned to the 
person who marked it and who identifies it. 

All that the performer needs to perform this trick, is 
an extra half dollar, the three coins, hat and glass being 
preferably borrowed articles. The first mentioned half 
dollar is kept palmed in the left hand and while the con- 
jurer places the borrowed hat on the openingof the glass, 
he secretly and noiselessly slips this coin between the rim 
of the glass and the hat, the weight of which will sustain 
the coin in this position. The execution of this sleight is 
not at all difficult, as the coin is inserted on the side of 
the hat that is furthest from the company, besides the 
performer holds the hat with both hands as if to place it 
evenly on the glass. The three coins having been bor- 
rowed and placed on the outstretched right hand, only 



52 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the two indifferent coins are dropped into the hat, the 
marked coin being kept pahned in the right hand. The 
throw of the coins into the hat causes the latter to move 
a trifle, whereby the coin sustained between hat and 
glass, becomes dislodged and drops into the glass under- 
neath. The illusion created is perfect, as an immediate 
trial on the part of my reader will prove. It is then an 
easy matter for the performer to exchange tlie marked 
coin palmed in his right hand for the one in the glass. 
All three coins are then returned to their owners with the 
customary thanks. 

WINE INSTEAD OF FLOWERS. 

An up to date finish to the well known trick of pro- 
ducing flowers from an empty paper cone, consists of 
tearing off" the tip of the cone after the flowers contained 
in the latter have been emptied out, when a quantity of 
red wine, sufficient to fill several glasses, is seen issuing 
from the open tip of the cone, which is now unrolled and 
shown to be empty and perfcctlx^ dry on the inside. 

In order to be able to perform this trick, the conjurer 
must obtain from a drug store a small safe made out of 
extremely thin rubber, or what is iust as oood, a to\' bal- 
loon of the long variety. Around the op^^Miing of this 
balloon is cemented a brass ring; the balloon is then filled 
with wine, its openinc^ closed with a heavy metal or rub- 
ber stopper and concealed in the performer's sleeve or 
laid on the servante. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 53 

After having produced a number of flowers from the 
cone a:id emptied them into the basket, the performer 
secretly sHps the filled balloon into the cone, the end with 
the heavy cork immediately sliding to the bottom of the 
latter. He now proceeds to tear off the tip of the cone, 
and while doing so, \vith the same hand pulls the stopper 
out of the ballo(Mi, immediately palming it and disposing 
of it at the first opportunity which offers itself. The wine 
issuing from the cone is allowed to run into glasses, which 
have been placed in readiness. The performer then tilts 
the cone toward himself and allows the collapsed balloon 
to slide into his hand, where he can conceal it with ease. 
The cone is then opened out and shown empty as 
described. 



WINE, HANDKERCHIEF AND BOTTLE. 
The performer introduces a corked, transparent glass 
decanter or bottle filled with wine, then placing it on an 
ordinary chair and covering it with a borrowed handker- 
chief. He next forms a paper cone, into which he places 
a small silk handkerchief. Tearing off the tip of the cone, 
red wine is seen pouring out of the latter, being allowed 
to run into a glass held underneath. The cone is then 
opened and shown empty, the handkerchief having mys- 
teriously disappeared. Going to the chair the conjurer 
removes the handkerchief covering the decanter, out of 
which the wine has vanished, the missing handkerchief, 
which completely fills the inside of the bottle, having 
taken its place. 



54 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

The decanter used for the trick is prepared similarly 
to the one used in all "Wine and Water Separations.'' 
In its bottom and neck are drilled small holes; the hole 
in the neck is stopped up by a pellet of wax, and while 
holding his finger over the hole in the bottom of the bot- 
tle, the performer fills the latter with wine and closes it 
with a prepared cork. This cork is a hollow metal one, 
open at the bottom and covered with a thin layer of cork. 
In the hollow space of this dummy cork is concealed a 
silk handkerchief, to the center of which a thin but strong 
oiled black thread is fastened, which is led through the 
bottle and issues from the hole in the bottom of the lat- 
ter, where a thick knot is made to prevent the end of the 
thread from slipping back into the bottle. In the per- 
former's sleeve lies concealed a rubber balloon filled w ith 
wine as sufficiently explained in the last trick. 

When the magician places the decanter on the caiie 
seat chair he secretly removes the wax from the neck of 
the bottle, whereby air enters the latter, and exercising a 
pressure on the fluid, causes the latter to run out of the 
hole in the bottom of the decanter, from where it runs 
through the open meshes (>f the caning of the chair into 
a very shallow metal receptacle hooked from underneath 
into the cane seat. This most excellent method of caus- 
ing fluid to disappear out of a decanter will also be found 
of great service in the "Separation of Wine and Water." 
In picking up the decanter still covered by the hand- 
keixliief, the performer seizes and pulls the knot protrud- 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 5 5 

incr from the bottom of the latter, causincr the handker- 
chief to be drawn out of the cork into the bottle, in which 
it instantly expands. 

The placing of the handkerchief into the cone is sim- 
ply a matter of palming, the handkerchief being rolled 
into a ball between the hands, w^hen it is apparently 
placed in the left hand but really kept palmed in the 
right. The balloon filled with wine is previously intro- 
duced into the c me from the sleeve or servante as de- 
scribed in the prec:fding trick. 

Another entirely different method of producing wine 
in a paper cone depends upon the use of a rubber bag 
(small fountain s\Ti nge) worn by the performer under the 
left arm, the rubbjr tube attached to the bag leading over 
the back of the performer's vest and down the right 
sleeve, near the opening of which a small stop cock is 
situated. Holding the cone in the right hand, the con- 
jurer secretly opens the stop cock and proceeds to tear 
off the tip of the cone, at the same time pressing with the 
upper part of the left arm against the rubber bag, whereby 
the fluid contained in the latter is forced along the rub- 
ber tube and unperceived enters the paper cone, issuing 
from the open tip of the latter. 



THE NEW FLYING GLASS OF WATER. 

In the following trick I take pleasure of making my 
readers acquainted with a clever and entirely new^ method 
of disappearing a glass of water, a method which, on 



56 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

account of its originality and simplicit)', deserves favor- 
able mention. The beauty of the trick lies in the fact 
that absolutely no preparation of any kind is required. 
The performer simply covers an ordinary tumbler filled 
with water with a borrowed handkerchief and carr}^ing 
the glass forward, while standing among the audience, 
causes it to instantly disappear although its entire shape 
is seen under the handkerchief up to the last moment. 
To prove that the glass is not concealed in his sleeve or 
pockets, the artist invites anyone who desires to examine 
him thoroughly. 

The only condition necessary to the successful exe- 
cution of this trick is that the performer must wear cuffs, 
one of which is loose, i. e., not attached to the wristband 
of his shirt. In covering the glass with the borrowed 
handkerchief the performer secretly slips the loose cuff 
over the glass and lifting up cuff and handkerchief w^ith 
one hand, with the other adroitly places the glass on the 
servante of the table. He then goes forward with the 
handkerchief, which to all appearances still covers the 
glass, and introducing his disengaged hand under it, 
counts, ''one, two, three," at the same time pushing his 
hand through the cuff and allowing the latter to slide 
back to its former place. The handkerchief is then freely 
shown, the glass of water having apparently melted away. 
The examination of the performer's person will prove 
of no avail, as nothing suspicious could possibly be dis- 
covered. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 57 

A variation of the trick, vyhieh admits of its perform- 
ance any v\ here, consists of borrowing a silk hat which is 
placed, opening upwards, upon, any tabl'e. The per- 
former introduces the tumblerof'water- and stating that 
he is about to disappear it, asks the spectators which 
method of disappearance they would prefer, a visible one 
or an invisible one. Some one is sure to desire the vis- 
ible disappearance of the glass of water, whereupon the 
performer simply places the glass into the hat stating that 
it now has visibly disappeared. Everyone laughs and 
some one remarks that any one can do that, so the. per- 
former offers to do the vanishing invisibly, by covering 
the hat with a handkerchief and taking up the latter with 
the glass seemingly under it. In reality he has secretly 
slipped the cuff over the glass in the hat and has taken 
this up with the handkerchief He next goes among the 
audience and disappears the glass as already explained, 
stating that tlie glass of water has no doubt returned to 
the hat, from where he then removes it. 



THE GLASS CYLINDER AND WMER TRICK, 

A glass cylinder, which is about six inches long and 
nearly two inches in diameter, is given for examination 
and found free from preparation. The performer then 
takes a small sheet of dampened paper and holding it 
against the bottom of the cylinder, completely fills the 
latter with water, pouring it into the open upper end, 
over which he then places a similar sheet of paper. 



58 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

Removing his hand from the bottom of the cylinder the 
water remains suspended in the latter. The conjurer now 
peels off the bottom paper and to every one's astonish- 
ment the water, instead of spilling out, still remains sus- 
pended in the glass tube. Placing his hand on both ends 
of the cylinder, the performer turns the latter upside 
down and remarks that the most difficult part of the ex- 
periment is about to come, and proceeds to remove the 
paper from the bottom, which, as will be remembered, 
occupied the top a moment ago, when again, contrary to 
the spectator's anticipation, the water remains in the 
cylinder, being apparently held by nothing. Holding 
the filled cylinder at some little distance above a glass 
pitcher or bowl, the conjurer commands it to empty itself, 
which it instantly does, and if desired, can once more be 
given for examination. 

The secret of this novel trick depends upon the use 
of two discs of mica or isinglass of the same circumfer- 
ence as the outside of the cylinder. By means of a drop 
or two of water each disc is stuck to the rear side of the 
small squares of paper used for covering the ends of the 
cylinder. In placing the papers on, the conjurer takes 
great care that the mica rests evenly on the ends of the 
cylinder. The rest of the trick will now appear easy to 
my readers, as all that the performer has to do is to 
quickly but carefully peel off the papers as described, the 
mic.i discs which remain on the ends of the glass tube 
and which are not noticeable, producing the result as 
described in the effect of the trick. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 59 

The emptying of the cylinder at the word of com- 
mand, is accjinplished by slightly lifting the upper mica 
disc with the finger nail, whereupon air enters the cylin- 
der forcing the water out and causing the mica at the 
lower end of the tube to drop with the water into the 
pitcher or b«nvl. The upper mica disc is easily palmed 
off, and all evidences of trickery being thus remov^ed, the 
cylinder can once more be thoroughly inspected. 

The method just described is a simple one, adopted 
by Ameriean conjurers. Their European colleagues go 
to a little more trouble in performing the trick, by using, 
instead of the mica discs, two glass discs with a shoulder 
at the bottom, which fits partly into each end of the 
cylinder. Besides in the upper glass disc is drilled a 
small hole, which allows the performer to pass a knitting 
needle into the cylinder at any time, the knitting needle 
being also used to cause the emptying of the filled cylin- 
der, b\^ being simply pushed far enough into the cylinder 
to force out the bottom disc. 



THE BEWITCHED DECANTER, 
In this excellent trick the performer introduces a 
glass decanter filled w^ith clear water and a tray contain- 
ing a number of ordinary wine glasses, which may be 
closely inspected to prove that they contain no hidden 
chemicals. Taking one of the glasses and requesting 
some one to wipe it thoroughly with their handkerchief, 
to do away with any lingering doubt of preparation, the 
performer, after receiving the glass back, pours water 



60 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

into it from the decanter and empties back into tlie lat- 
terr The spectators are now asked to name the liquid 
they would Hte the performer to produce in the empt)' 
glass in his hand. Supposing the\' call for wine the per- 
former immediately proceeds to pour a beauiihil red wine 
from the decanter into the glass, the contents of which 
are now emptied into an empty vessel provided for that 
purpose, or another glass may be taken from the tray and 
rinsed and wiped by one of the spectators, whereupon 
the performer once mo re pours out any liquor called for, 
producing beiiedictine, champagne, coffee, absinthe, milk, 
black ink, chartreuse, bitters, sherry, in fact any liquid 
called for. 

This trick, which certainly has a wonderful effect, 
depends upon a preparation of the decanter, which, 
besides the water, contains a fourth of a cup of alcohol 
and also a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda The 
glasses used are all unprepared, so that no amount of 
rinsing and wiping will in any way effect the success of 
the trick. If however the performer desires to produce 
milk during the trick, one of the glasses must contain a 
little Subacetate of Lead. When the liquid is poured 
from the decanter into this glass, milk is apparently 
obtained. The other liquids are produced by an arrange- 
ment of soluble colors arranged around the mouth or 
upper edge of the opening of the decanter. For this 
purpose the performer procures some Diamond Dyes or 
other aniline colors and dissolves each color in a little 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 6 1 

Water and glycerine^ grinding* these ingredients together 
until a stiff paste is forined^ of which a little dab is placed 
on the mouth of the: decanter/the different colors being 
airafig^d in an 'alphabetical order, so that the performer 
(tan reatlily find, the color he desires. These dabs of 
color are placed at equal distance from each other, a 
rather wide space being left open, so that in cas^ anyone 
shouid ask for water, the conjurer can. serve it without 
hesitation. The dyes, i. e. if Diamond Dyes are used, 
are the ones intended for dyeing silk or wool; afew of the 
principal colors to get are: Slate (which makes a black 
ink); Light Yellow, Light Green, Scarlet, Lilac or Purple, 
Light Blue, etc. When the decanter is properly pre- 
pared the conjurer pours out any liquid as described, by 
allowing the water to run out of the decanter over the 
particular color adhering to the mouth of the latter, the 
alcohol contained in the w^ater causing the colors to dis- 
solve very readily. 



THE DIE AND FLOWERS. 

A neat finale to a trick in which the popular large 
size magic die is used, consists of covering said die with 
a borrowed handkerchief, upon removal of which the die 
is found to have disappeared, a large bouquet of hand- 
some flowers having taken its place. 

The solid die used during the first part of the trick 
is adroitly substituted on the serVante of the table for a 
duplicate hollow die which contains the flowers. The 



62 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

prepared die is made of thin wood, its sides, the edges of 
which are bevelled, being fastened to the bottom of the 
die by means of black calico hinges; the top of the die is 
separate from the rest. To the inside of the bottom are 
fastened about fifty of the best folding flowers With 
strings. After these flowers are carefully folded and 
placed on top of each other, the four sides of the die are 
raised and the top of the die is now placed on. Frc m 
the upper edge of the four sides of the die protrudes a 
short metal point, which corresponds with four holes in 
the top; in placing the latter on, the protruding points 
are inserted in the holes of the top, by which means the 
die is firmly held together. 

After the substitution of dies has taken place, the 
prepared die is placed on the table, which preferably 
ought to be covered with black felt. A handkerchief is 
used to cover the die, and in removing the first, the per- 
former carries the top of the die along with it, for this 
purpose seizing a loop of thread fastened to it. The 
concealed flowers immediately expand and cause the four 
hinged sides of the die to fall flat on the table, covering 
them entirely. Even if a corner of the collapsed die 
should remain uncovered, it would not be noticed, as the 
inside of the die is painted a dead black, which will 
explain the reason why the die is placed on a table, the 
top of which is covered with black material. If such a 
table is not available, a newspaper is previously spread 
out on an ordinary table and the die placed on it, the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 63 

inside of tlie die being in this case lined with newspaper. 
While the attention of the spectators is called to the 
bouquet of flowers, the performer has ample opportunity 
to allow the top of the die to fall out of the handkerchief 
into the servante, after which the handkerchief is returned 
to its owner. 

THE SOUP PLATE AND FLOWERS. 
FIRST METHOD. 

An ordinary looking^ soup plate is freely shown and 
covered with a borrowed handkerchief. Upon removal 
of the latter, the plate is seen to be completely filled with 
handsome flowers. 

There are two distinct ways of accomplishing this 
charming trick. The method that will be described first 
depends upon the use of a prepared plate, while in the 
second method any plate maybe used. The mechanical 
plate may be made in different ways, the simplest one of 
which consists of fastening a false bottom about an inch 
above the real bottom. This false bottom is covered 
with fine glazed paper which is decorated in harmony 
with the rest of the plate. In the center is cut a round 
trap, divided in the center, which is constructed like the 
well known double rabbit trap, the only difference being 
that the doors of the trap in the plate fold upwards 
instead of downw^ards. The flowers (silk ones with 
strings) are concealed between the two bottoms, being 
prevented from spreading or sliding by a ring of paste- 



64 LATTER Day tricks: 

board which is glued around the inside of the trdp, thus 
forming a sort of a well for the flowers to lie in. The 
center of the trap, where the two doors meet, is provided 
with a small hole, through which protrudes a loop of fine 
wire or catgut, which is fastened to the flowers. In lift- 
ing the handkerchief, the loop is seized from without, 
causing the flowers to be -pullrd out through the trap, 
which instantly closes- itself, when they expand and fill 
the plate to overflowing. 

Another plan of constructing this plate consists of 
having a ronnd disc of metal or pasteboard, which just 
fits over the well in which the flowers are concealed. By 
means of a simple bolt device, the disc is secured to the 
upper false bottom of the plate. Under cover of the 
handkerchief, the bolt is pushed back, causing the flow- 
ers to well up, thereby lifting the disc, which is car- 
ried away with the handkerchief and afterwards disposed 
of on the servante. 

SECOND METHOD. 

As has been stated before, the pilate used in this 
version of the trick is an unprepared one. A small metal 
apparatus painted flesh color and oval in shape, with a 
flat top and bottom, is used; this apparatus being of 
sufficient size to accommodate a parcel of fifty folding 
flowers, which are introduced into the box by means of a- 
trap door, divided in the center and forming tlie bottom" 
of the box. These doors resemble a miniature rabbit 
trap, the only difference being that instead of working 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 65 

inwards like the latter, they fold outwards. The trap 
b )ttom is then locked by two spring catches, which can 
be released by pressing two small buttons situated on the 
outside of the b >x. On the upper side of the latter is 
soldered a sh'p which enables the performer to pick up 
the box from the servante and to hold it concealed on the 
inside or back of the hand without giving the latter an 
awkward appearance. It will be readily seen that tlie 
box can thus be introduced under the handkerchief witli 
little fear of detection. When removing the handkercliief 
the performer picks up the box at the same time and b}' 
pressing the button already described, causes the trap 
doors of the box to open, whereupon the flowers drop 
out and fill the plate. To prevent any noise while tlie 
apparatus is laid on the plate, soft felt is glued on the 
bottom doors. A pretty way of performing the trick 
consists of using three handkerchiefs and three plates, 
each of which fills itself with a difi"erent color of flowers. 
Those of my readers who possess a quantity of 
spring flowers and also some of the mechanical holders 
or bands which hold the flowers together, leleasing them 
upon pressure, can produce nearly as good an eff'ect b\' 
using the holders instead of the box described above. 
The parcel of flowers surrounded by its liolder is secretly 
introduced under the handkerchief, a pressure on the 
outside of the latter sufficing to open the holder, whicii 
releases the flowers. The disconnected holder is allowed 
to remain on the plate, being completely hidden b\' the 



66 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

expanded flowers. Some conjurers prefer this method 
of performing the trick, as it is simpler and does away 
with the necessity of disposing of the apparatus used. 



THE COLOR CHANGING ROSE, 

During any trick in which real flowers are used, a 
pretty effect is created by taking a red rose, which, upon 
being fanned, gradually changes into a white one, which 
is presented to a lady. 

FIRST METHOD. 

Previous to the performance, a white rose is taken 
and held for a moment over a gas jet or lamp, causing all 
superfluous moisture on the petals of the flower to 
evaporate. The performer then takes a quantity of dry 
chrome red and places it in a small bag made of fine 
muslin. Holding the bag at some little distance above 
the rose, he taps it repeatedly with the back of a table 
knife, causing a fine shower of red to descend from the 
bag and. to settle upon the petals of the flow^er, wdiich 
now gradually assumes a red color. This done, the 
flower is placed aside in readiness for the experiment. 

The conjurer exhibits the prepared rose and offering 
it to a lady, pretends to hear her say that she would pre- 
fer a white rose. Seizing a fan he obHgingly offers to 
change the color of the flower in his hand into the one 
desired by the lady, and begins to fan the rose, whereby 
the red color becomes dislodged, causing the flower to 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 6'J 

gradually become white. In order to make sure that no 
particles of red remain hidden in the crevices of the 
flower, he accidentally drops it on the floor, the shock 
causing any remaining particles to become dislodged and 
to fall off. 

SECOND METHOD. 
This trick of pure sleight of hand is especially suit- 
able for an opening trick. The performer enters, hold- 
ing in his left hand a red rose, to the stem of which is 
fastened an elastic cord, which passes up on the inside of 
the left sleeve and is then secured to the back of the con- 
jurer's vest. Under the right side of the vest is concealed 
a white rose. After having exhibited the red flower, the 
performer with his right hand palms the white rose, 
meanwhile remarking that he is not satisfied with the 
color of the flower in his hand, and stating his intention 
of changing it. Turning his left side to the audience, he 
places the right hand, which contains the white rose, over 
the red flower, pretending to rub the latter gently. Un- 
der cover of this movement he allows the red flower to 
be drawn up the left sleeve by means of the elastic, and 
a few seconds later exhibits the white rose, which, with 
his compliments, he presents to a lady. 



THE BEWITCHED WAND, 

The performer calls atiention to two polished black 
wands, which he holds side by side in his left hand. 
From the end of one of them protrudes a short cord and 



68 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

from the other a long one. Stating that these wands are 
in sympathy with each other, the performer with the 
right hand slowly pulls out the short cord, when to every 
one's astonishment the long cord becomes, shorter to the 
same extent as the short one becomes longer. Pretend- 
ing to hear some one say that the wands are connected 
and that it is only one cord which runs through both of 
them, the conjurer seizes both wands by their lower ends 
only, their upper ends being at some distance apart from 
each other. Nevertheless, upon pulling the short cord it 
becomes longer and the long one shorter. Again pre- 
tending to hear that the wands are connected at the bot- 
tom, he holds both distinctly apart in his left hand and 
repeats the process of shortening and lengthening the 
cords. 

The wands, which are hollow, may be constructed 
out of polished, black, hard rubber tubing or out of 
metal or wooden tubes enamelled black. All four ends 
of the tubes are closed by means of a plug. The cord in 
both wands runs through the entire length of the tube 
and is fastened to a leaden weight which glides smoothly 
back and forth inside of the wand. To ensure noiseless- 
ness, the weight is surrounded with chamois skin. The 
lioles near the upper ends of the wands, from which the 
cords protrude, are situated at the side. To. prevent the 
end of each cord from accidentally slipping into the wand, 
a large bead is fastened to it. 

In introducing the trick, the performer holds the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 69 

wand with the long string in a level position while the 
o:her wand is held a little more upright. The performer 
by pulling out the short cord, at the same time raises the 
other wand to a more perpendicular position, whereby 
the weight contained in its inside slowly sinks down, and 
drawing the long cord with it, causes it to become per- 
ceptibly shorter. In the proper execution of this move 
lies the entire secret and difficulty of the trick, and there- 
fore the latter should not be attempted until thoroughly 
mastered. Both hands must work in perfect unison with 
each other, in order to make the raising and lowering of 
the wands as imperceptible as possible. 

The different ways of holding the wands, as set forth 
in the description of the effect of the trick, simply are 
intended to confuse the spectators in regard to the modus 
operandi. 

F'urther pretty variations may be introduced, as for 
instance allowing a spectator to pull out the short cord, 
while the wand with the long cord held in the performer's 
other hand is imperceptibly raised, causing the long cord 
to recede within the wand. Another interlude consists 
of the performer placing the lower end of the wand with 
the long cord in his mouth and to pull out the short cord. 
By simply bending the head gradually backwards, the 
weight in the wand glides down and causes the long cord 
to become short to the same extent as the short one 
becomes longer. 



/O LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

THE MAGICAL OIL PAINTING. 

A clever feat, especially suitable for introduction in 
amateur circles, consists of the performer showing a 
frame covered with white paper, then placing it on an 
easel. The artist, who is provided with paints and other 
utensils of the painter's art, seizes palette and brush and 
in an incredibly short time, that is in the course of a few 
minutes, proceeds to execute an excellent oil painting 
before the very eyes of the spectators. As this experi- 
ment is not introduced as a trick (although it is one), 
everyone will admire the wonderful dexterity with which 
the performer rendered such a handsome painting in so 
short a time. The trick, which requires no artistic capa- 
bility whatever, is an exceedingly simple one. Previous 
to the performance an oil painting or an oleograph is 
stretched on a frame and over it is then pasted a sheet of- 
white tissue paper of a good quality which effectually 
hides the picture. Should one sheet prove insufficient 
a second sheet is pasted over the first one. Besides the 
palette, the performer is provided with several wide, soft 
brushes and a number of small saucers for containing 
paint, which should have the appearance as if they had 
been frequently used. Instead of paint each saucer con- 
tains a little colorless oil. 

In performing the feat, the conjurer apparently takes 
a little color from the saucers with his brush, makes 
believe to mix it on the palette and apparently proceeds 
to paint. The oil contained in the brush makes the tissue 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. J I 

paper transparent and causes the painting to gradually 
appear. In order to create the proper deception, the 
performer should change brushes often and in other ways 
copy the style of working of an artist as closely as it is 
possible for him to do so. 



THE BROKEN AND MENDED WINE GLASS. 

The trick that I am about to explain, has the peculi- 
arity that it can only be performed while the conjurer sits 
at a dinner table. After having introduced a few tricks 
with lumps of sugar, pellets of bread and other articles 
that are handy, the artist states that he will perform the 
very difficult feat of balancing a wine glass on the edge of 
his table knife, proceeding to do so w^ith the result that 
the glass slips off the blade, and falling on the floor, is 
distinctly heard to break. With apparently sincere apol- 
og^ies to the hostess, the performer expresses his regrets 
of having broken the glass by his foolhardiness, and after 
having declared that the damage will be repaired, pro- 
ceeds to produce the identical glass, uninjured, from the 
tail pocket of his coat. 

The apparatus used in this trick will be found of 
great service in other dinner table tricks, being especia-lly 
adapted to the vanishing of oranges, apples and articles 
of a similar nature. The apparatus consists of a black 
cotton net, the opening of which is sewn to a strong wire 
ring of about five inches in diameter. To this are fas- 
tened two stout black elastics, the other ends of which 



72 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

are sewn or otherwise secured to the back of the per- 
former's vest. The elastics, which are drawn quite tight, 
are first led through under the performer's vest buckle, 
causing the net to be drawn up firmly against the latter. 
When about to perform the trick with the glass, the con- 
jurer secretly pulls down the net and draws it through 
between his legs, preventing it from slipping back by 
holding it with his knees. 

The attempted balance of the glass on the edge of 
his knife is only a subterfuge, which gives him an oppor- 
tunity to drop the glass into the net, which act he accom- 
panies by an involuntary start, rising slightly at the same 
time. The net is hereby liberated and by action of the 
elastics is rapidly drawn back to itsr former place under 
the coat tails. To produce the sound of the breaking of 
the glass, the performer is provided with a small bag 
containing a wine glass and a few leaden bullets acting as 
weights; to the upper end of the sack is fastened a thread 
which passes through a ring sewn to the vest and hidden 
by the coat. Previous to the the trick, the performer has 
drawn down the bag and held it against the rung of the 
chair by pressure of his leg. At the same moment that 
the glass slips off the edge of the knife and falls into the 
net, he releases the pressure on the small bag, which 
drops to the floor, producing the aforesaid deception. 
At the first opportunity, he seizes the thread attached to 
the bag and draws it back to its former place under the 
coat. In apparently producing the glass from his coat 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 73 

tall pocket, it will be readily understood that it is taken 
out of the net instead. An additicnial effect may be 
introduced here by producing the glass filled to the brim 
with wine instead of being empty. For this purpose the 
performer employed a rubb;-:r syringe or ball previously 
filled with red wine, which he had concealed in the pro- 
fonde. While bringing forth the glass, he empties the 
contents of the syringe or ball into it and produces it 
filled as described. 



THE NEW WRITING HAND. 

The trick in which an isolated, imitation hand writes 
and drawls anx'thing the spectators desire, is not exacth* 
new, several methods of performing it being in existence. 
The lack of popularity of this trick may be accounted for 
by the high cost and complicated modus operandi of all 
methods hitherto offered. To Mr. Cuivel of Trieste, 
Austria, belongs the credit of having invented a very 
simple, inexpensive and still effective way of performing 
the trick referred to. The hand, an ordinary paper 
mache one, is placed on an unprepared table without 
drapery, or what is still better, on a sheet ot glass laid 
across the back of tw^o chairs. Several sheets of blank 
paper are then placed under the hand, and the spectators 
are now requested to dictate something, which the hand 
immediately proceeds to write. The performer then 
hands the sheet of paper to the spectators with the 
request to convince themselves that whatever has been 



74 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

dictated, has actually been written. As has been stated 
before, the trick is a very simple one, which however if 
accompanied by the proper mise en scene will not fail to 
create an excellent effect. 

On the table or sheet of glass is placed a heavy ink- 
stand, to which a thread is fasttMied, which runs through 
the hand and is led to the assistant behind the wing, who 
by clever manipulation of the thread, gives the hand a 
writing motion and also causes the appearance as if the 
hand dipped the pen into the ink, the penholder being 
secured to the first finger of the hand by means of a small 
rubber band. The words dictated by the spectators are 
immediately copied in large, bold letters on a sheet of 
paper, similar to the ones under the hand, by the assistant 
behind the scenes, who, when finished, places this sheet 
of paper under a blotter of the same size as the paper. 
Both are then laid on a chair standing near the wings. 
The performer fetches the blotter, presumably to dry 
what the hand wrote, but really places the writtten paper 
under cover of the blotter on top of the blank ones and 
with a conjurer's sang froid passes out this sheet as the 
identical one written on by the spirit hand. 

The author leaves it to his readers to find other uses 
for this excellent trick, simply suggesting that the hand 
may prove of advantage in writing the names of selected 
cards, giving answers to questions, working out sums in 
arithmetic, etc. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 75 

ROBINSON'S RING AND POTATO TRICK. 

The performer borrows a wedding ring and places it 
somewhere, \\ here it will remain in full view of the audi- 
ence during the first part of the trick- He then fetches 
a plate containing several potatoes and after having one 
of them selected, runs through it an umbrella rib or stiff 
wire and then proceeds to cut the potato into three pieces, 
sliding them along the wire so that they are apart from 
each other. One of the pieces is then chosen and allowed 
to remain on the wire, while the other two pieces are 
removed from the latter and placed aside. The conjurer 
then causes the ring to disappear, and upon cutting open 
the piece of potato still remaining on the wire, the ring- 
is found inside, the wire running through it. 

Behind the screen the performer has a potato which 
has a piece scooped out of sufficient size to admit a ring. 
The piece cut out of the potato is saved and cut much 
shorter, so as to form a plug when the ring is inserted. 
By means of the wand, the conjurer exchanges the bor- 
rowed ring for a duplicate one, which he had concealed 
in the hand holding the wand. The duplicate ring is 
placed where it can be seen by every one; leaving it on 
the wand and giving the latter to a boy to hold being as 
good a way as any. While fetching the plate with pota- 
toes, the conjurer quickly inserts the palmed, borrowed 
ring in the prepared potato, putting in the plug and then 
placing the potato in his pocket. Going forward with 
the plate, one of the potatoes is selected and secretly 



^6 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

exchano'ed for the prepared one on the performer's way 
to the stage. The prepared potato is put on the wire 
and then cut into three pieces, the ring being concealed 
in the middle one, the choice of which is forced on the 
spectators by means of the well known ''Your right and 
my left" alternative. The tw^o end pieces of the potato 
are then removed, and after the vanishing of the dupli- 
cate ring, the piece of potato remaining on the wire is 
cut open and in it the borrowed ring is discovered. 



THE CHAMELEON PAPER SHAVINGS. 
FIRST METHOD. 
The properties required for this trick are: 

A. A large glass or glass vase. 

B. Four saucers. 

C. Paper shavings of four different colors (red, 
black, white, green), a quantity of each being placed on 
one of the saucers, saucer No. i containing red shavings, 
saucer No. 2 black ones, etc. 

D. A round cardboard box, open at the top, wdiich 
is divided into four compartments of equal size, each of 
which contains a different color of shavings. The top of 
this box is then closed by means of thin paper glued over it 
The entire outside of the box is then treated to a coat of 
glue and placed in a receptacle filled with paper shaving*; 
of mixed colors, causing them to adhere to all sides of 
the box, which is then concealed under the coat, being 
held in place by the upper part of the arm. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. T] 

The performer introduces the trick by showing the 
empty glass vase and the four saucers filled with shav- 
ings, which he proceeds to empty into the glass. Going 
among the audience he requests a spectator to stir the 
shavings, so that the four colors become thoroughly 
mixed. After the person has done as requested, the 
performer returns to the stage and on his way to the lat- 
ter, secretly loads the cardboard box concealed under his 
coat into the vase, where however it is not noticed, being 
covered with varicolored shavings. He next asks a lady 
to tell him the color of shavings she would like him to 
produce separately from the vase. As soon as the 
desired color is Cdlled out, he shows his hand empty and 
reaching into the vase simply breaks through the com- 
partment containing the chosen color of shavings and 
bringing out a quantity of them, strews them about. 
This he repeats with any of the remaining colors, always 
showing his hand empty before placing it into the vase. 

SECOND METHOD. 
For this version of the trick, the performer needs 
three saucers containing different colored sliavings and a 
six cornered glass box or vase, which by means of a mir- 
ror partition, placed vertically in its center, is divided 
into two compartments of equal size. The rear compart- 
ment, i. e. the one back of the mirror, is also divided by 
two vertical partitions into three subdivisions. One of 
these contains red shavings, the next one white ones and 
the remaining one black ones; this side of the casket is 



78 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

not sliown the spectators during the entire trick, they 
being allowed to see the front compartment onl\\ the 
mirror creating the illusion of the casket being entirely 
empty. 

In performing the experiment, the conjurer pours 
the shavings from the saucers into the front compartment 
of the casket, completely filling it and mixing them by 
stirring with his w^and, which on account of the fulhiess 
of the casket is not reflected in the mirror. One of the 
three colors is then called for as in the last trick, where- 
upon the artist simply reaches into one of the rear com- 
partments and produces from it the desired shavings. In 
order to be able to show the casket from all sides during 
the trick, varicolored shavings have oeen glued on the 
inside of the three rear glass sides, thus making the 
casket appear to be completely filled with mixed shav- 
ings on all sides. 

THIRD METHOD. 

This method if neatly performed, surpasses the ones 
previously described, in the first place because it is 
cleaner in execution and secondly because it requires no 
apparatus, the trick depending upon sleight of hand pure 
and simple. A very useful idea is here introduced which 
will prove of great assistance in other tricks. 

To prepare himself for the trick, the conjurer must 
make up a number of small round bundles of the differ- 
ent colored shavings. For this purpose he takes a large 
number of narrow strips of paper of one color and firmly 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 79 

ties a strong thread around them very near the ends. 
With a shaip knife, an old razor will answer admirably, 
he proceeds to cut the strips at the other side of the 
thread, thereby obtaining a small, very firm parcel of 
shavings, the parcel being about one inch in diameter and 
not quite a half an inch in height. After having pre- 
pared a number of parcels of each color of paper in this 
fashion, the conjurer selects one or two of each color and 
attaches to their upper flat end a pellet of wax, pressing 
it flat, then placing the parcels in a certain order upon 
the servante of the table. On top of the latter, near the 
rear edge, are placed the saucers filled with shavings. 
After their contents have been emptied into a glass vase, 
the saucers are replaced and the shavings stirred by a 
spectator. At the performer's request, a lady then calls 
for a certain color of shavings that she desires him to 
produce unmixed from the vase. Seizing one of the 
saucers with the left hand, the performer shows it freely 
from both sides, while at the same time the right hand 
picks up and palms the parcel of the desired color from 
the servante. Transferring the saucer with a perfectly 
natural motion to the right hand, the conjurer secretly 
attaches the small parcel by means of its waxed end un- 
der the rim of the saucer, where it can not be seen by 
the spectators. He then shows both hands empty by 
passing the saucer from one hand to the other, finally 
during the process of placing the plate from the right 
into the left hand, detaching and palming the parcel and 



8o LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

introduces the right hand, which every one believes to be 
empty, into the vase of mixed shavings. In bringing forth 
the parcel he works it a little in his hand, thereby loosen- 
ing the shavings and letting them fall on the saucer in 
his left hand. The remaining colors are produced in the 
same way; the performer being able to freely show vase, 
hands and saucer at any stage of the trick. 

The superior process of preparing the parcels of 
shavings has until now been guarded a very close secret 
by the few knowing ones. All manners of plans for 
accomplishing the same result have been tried by the 
uninitiated, but all these plans have more or less proven 
failures. The method described here will be found of 
great value in that pretty trick of the wet paper, which, 
upon being fanned, c anges into paper snow and in all 
other tricks of a simiicir nature. 



PAPER SHAVINGS CHANGED INTO BONBONS, 

An effective trick, which may be combined with the 
experiment just described, consists, as the title indicates, 
of changing paper shavii^gs into candy. 

The performer exhibits an ordinary sheet of news- 
paper, forming it into a cone and requesting one of the 
company to mark it. He then proceeds to fill the 
marked cone with colored shavings from a box containing 
a quantity of them. After showing once more that the 
cone is the marked one and that it is really filled with 
shavings, the performer closes it, waves his wand over it 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 8 1 

and holding it above a plate, breaks it open, when to 
every one's surprise, instead of the pap^r shavings, a 
shower of bonbons is seen to drop on the plate, which 
of course is passed to the ladies with the request to help 
themselves. 

This pretty parlor trick can be performed by any one 
without much previous preparation. All that is needed 
is a cardboard box filled with paper shavings under which 
is hidden a closed cone made of newspaper and filled 
with candy. In forming the other cone in presence of 
the spectators, the conjurer takes care to make it just a 
shade larger than the concealed cone. He then pretends 
to fill the empty cone with paper shavings, but really, 
under cover of the box, loads the filled cone into the 
empty one and places a handful cf the shavings on top. 
After the mark on the outside cone has been recognized, 
the performer closes the latter and breaking both cones 
allows the bonbons to fall on the plate. The cone or 
rather cones are crumpled up and carelessly thrown aside. 



THE UNLUBKY HAT 

During a trick in which a borrowed hat is used, it 
will create great merriment, if the performer under pre- 
tense of ventilating the hat, deliberately proceeds to cut 
a round hole of some three inches in diameter in the 
crown of the latter, then folding back the cut piece and 
exposing the lining of the hat, much to the discomfiture 
of its owner. But as it is a poor conjurer that cannot 



82 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

repair the mischief he has perpetrated, our conjurer prov- 
ing no exception to the rule, repairs the hat at a mo- 
ment's notice, returning it to its anxious owner, who, 
upon very careful inspection, finds no trace whatever of 
the former hole. 

Not wishing to mislead my reader, I will commence 
the explanation of the trick by owning up that there 
never was a hole in the crow^n of the hat, the entire decep- 
tion consisting of the performer placing on top of the hat 
a round disc cut out of an old silk hat. By means of a 
cloth hinge, a piece of hat lining mounted on cardboard 
of the same size as the disc, is secured to the latter so 
that both discs may be folded up and appear to be one. 
The "fake," as already explained, is secretly placed on 
top of the hat, where it is maintained by pressing into 
the crown a couple of needle points fastened to the lower 
side of the second disc. A pretense is first made of cut- 
ting a round hole in the crown of the hat; if the performer 
possesses a knife whose blade can be pushed back into 
the handle, its use will be found very effective. The 
upper silk disc is then deliberately folded back, whereby 
the lower disc covered with the lining becomes visible. 
At some little distance the illusion is perfect and never 
fails to have the proper effect on the owner of the head- 
gear. To repair the damage, the conjurer simply folds 
the upper disc back on the lower one and palms off" both, 
getting rid of them by dropping them into the profonde 
or on the servante. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 83 

THE DISAPPEARING GOLD FISH. 

Ill almost every magiciin's repertory is found the 
trick of chanoing in some form or other ink into water 
containing several live gold fish. With a little extra 
trouble an additional effect may be introduced by cover- 
ing the glass containing the water with a borrowed hand- 
kerchief, upon removal of which the fish have mysteri- 
ously disappeared. 

To prepare for the trick, a fine flesh colored silk 
thread is passed through the mouth and out of the gill of 
one of the gold fish, the end of the tliread being then tied 
to the thread proper. After the other fish are treated in 
the same way, all threads are connected and the ends on 
the other side of the knot are cut off short. Here 
another fine thread is tied on, which leads upwards inside 
of the glass and is secured to the rim of the latter by 
tying its end to a bent pin which is slipped over the rim 
of the glass. ,This arrangement, besides being unnotice- 
able, is not at all cruel to the fish, as it allows them full 
liberty to swim around in the glass. The glass is then 
covered with the handkerchief and in taking the latter off, 
the bent pin is seized from without, the gold fish being 
thereby pulled out of the water and carried along under 
cover of the handkerchief, out of which they are allowed 
to drop into a deep bowl which stands on the servante 
and which is partly filled with w^ater. 



84 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

THE WAND AND FLYING RINGS. 

Tricks with borrowed rings are ever popular, both 
with magicians and their audiences, and the trick that I 
am about to describe will, I hope, prove no exception to 
the rule. It is not of sufficient length to form a separate 
trick by itself, but will prove very effective if introduced 
in connection with some more pretentious tricks in which 
borrowed rings are used. The effect is as follows; Four 
borrowed rings are placed in some apparatus like for 
instance the Davenport Cabinet, Watch Box or any other 
suitable device that secretly gives the performer immedi- 
ate possession of them. With the hand in which the 
rings are palmed the conjurer seizes his wand, working 
the rings on that end of the latter that is concealed by 
the hand holding it. Into the wand, near its other end, 
is driven in a slanting position, a short needle, which is 
painted black to match the rest of the wand. The con- 
jurer now states that the rings will one by one leave the 
apparatus in which they aie apparently contained and 
will travel through the air out of which he will catch them 
one after the other by the aid of his wand. Suiting the 
action to the word the conjurer pretends to see the first 
ring floating through the air, and proceeds to make a 
lunge at it with his wand, the ring being seen to appear 
on the latter. All that the performer did however, was 
to release one of the rings held concealed under his hand 
and allowing it to quickly glide along the wand, near the 
other end of w^hich it is brought to a sudden stop by the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 8$ 

needle inserted there. In the same manner the other 
rings are caught and are poured on a plate, the wand 
being reversed for that purpose. The apparatus which 
previously contained them is shown empty and the rings 
are then identified by their owners. The catching of the 
rings is very deceptive, as the audience cannot tell where 
the rings come from; this is especially the case with the 
last three rings, the adding of them to the ring already 
on the wand occurring from the opposite direction that 
the spectators' attention is centered upon. 

INVISIBLE JOURNEY OF TWO CANARIES. 

The performer introduces a shallow oblong glass 
dish, which after showing empty he covers with a sheet 
of paper previously shown empty from both sides. Out 
of another sheet of paper he next forms a cone into which 
he places two live canary birds. At the word of com- 
mand the birds leave the cone, which is opened out and 
shown empty, and appear in the glass vase. As the dis- 
appearance of the birds is effected by means of a pre- 
pared cone, illustrated and described on page 21 in The 
Modern Wizard, it will be unnecessary to go into details 
of this part of the trick. 

To cause the appearance of the birds in the empty 
glass dish, the conjurer must provide himself with a pre- 
pared paper, which is constructed as follows; An oblong 
sheet of paper is folded once in the center, thus forming 
two halves; on the inner side of one is pasted a cloth 



86 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

pocket or bag, containing two canaries. This pocket is 
open at the end which for the time being, is closed by 
inserting two needles in the upper hem of the bag; fas- 
tened to each needle is a thread which is led to the corner 
of the paper and glued down at that place. To be able 
to unfold the paper and to show it from both sides, an 
extra layer of paper of the same size as the folded paper, 
is inserted between the latter, its edge being glued to the 
inside crease h'ke a patent sheet in a newspaper. In 
opening the paper and showing it, the conjurer holds the 
extra sheet in place, dropping it when ready to cover the 
dish. For this purpose the outside of the paper is turned 
towards the audience, the performer at the same pulling 
out the needles, causing the cloth pocket to open, where- 
by the birds drop into the dish, which by this time is 
covered. 

The cone is then made, the birds placed into it and 
made to disappear by the method known to my readers, 
and upon removing the paper from the glass dish, the 
birds are found in the latter. 



THE HYPNOTISED CANE. 
The conjurer borrows a cane from some obliging 
spectator and states that after charging it with mesmeric 
fluid, he will place the cane on the floor and cause it to 
stand alone in either a slanting or upright position with- 
out anybody being near it. He then proceeds to fulfill 
his promise and after the trick immediately returns the 
cane to its owner. 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 87 

The secret of the trick, the latter being especially 
adapted for the parlor, lies in the use of a prepared fer- 
rule, which just fits over the one on the cane, the per- 
former taking care to borrow a cane which fits as nearly 
as possible his ferrule. Near the edge of the bottom of 
this ferrule is inserted a sharp steel needle which is either 
screwed in or fastened with hard solder. The ferrule is 
kept concealed in the right hand, the performer receiving 
the borrowed cane wath his left hand. On his way to the 
table, he secretly slips the palmed ferrule over the one on 
the cane and is now ready for the experiment. After the 
spectators have been asked to select the position in which 
they wish the cane to stand, the performer places it in the 
desired position on the floor, pretending to magnetize it 
while he does so, and at the same time pushing the needle 
into the floor. If the compmy wish the cane to stand 
slantingly, the conjurer places it on the floor in such a 
way that the cane rests on the end of the ferrule opposite 
to the point where the needle is placed. Still continuing 
the h}'pnotic passes, the conjurer gradually relinquishes 
his hold on the cane and slow^ly moves his hands further 
and further away from it, till finally he is at some dis- 
tance from it, the cane remaining standing without 
apparent support. 

Pretending to demagnetize it, the performer seizes 
the cane by its lower and upper ends, then taking his 
hand away from the upper end, returns the cane in this 
fashion to its ow^ner, who will naturally seize it by the 



88 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

end nearest to him. In drawing it out of the performer's 
hand, the loose ferrule is kept concealed in the latter and 
disposed of at the first opportunity. 



THE NEW NEST OF BOXES. 

The effect of this trick consists of borrowing a watch, 
which is wrapped in a sheet of paper, the spectators 
choosing which of three colors of paper, i. e. red, white 
or blue, the performer shall use for the purpose. The 
parcel is then tied with a ribbon, the color of which is 
likewise selected by the company, and wrapped in a 
handkerchief, which is given to some one to hold. The 
performer next calls attention to a corded and sealed box, 
which has been seen standing on the table during the 
entire performance, and commands the borrowed watch 
to leave the handkerchief and appear in the corded and 
sealed box. Upon shaking out the handkerchief, the 
latter is seen to be empty. A spectator is requested to 
cut the tapes surrounding it and discovers in it another 
box, also sealed and corded. This is opened and in it is 
found a sealed and corded third box, which after being 
examined, is opened by a spectator, who discovers in it 
the borrow^ed watch, wrapped in the selected paper and 
tied with the selected color of ribbon. 

To understand the modus operandi of the trick, a 
somewhat detailed description of the construction of the 
boxes is necessary. The smallest box, which is the only 
one of the three boxes that is prepared, is of about the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 89 

size of a watch box and opens at the end same as the lat- 
ter; the spring catch found on every watch box being 
however omitted. The end simply pivots in the middle 
(not on the top as in the watch box), two nails being for 
this purpose driven in the sides of the box. About a 
half an inch above these are stationed two more nails, 
which simply being dum.mies, do not penetrate the sides 
of the box. At a similar distance below the center nails 
will be found two more nails, which however fit but 
loosely in their holes. The rest of the box is then stud- 
ded with similar nails to match its prepared end. It \\ ill 
be readily understood, that upon partly \\ ithdrawing the 
bottom nails, the end of the box may be opened and any 
article introduced into it; but when the tnd is closed and 
the bottom nails pressed back into their place, the box 
may be freely examined without any one discovering the 
preparation, as the bottom nails entered the end and pre- 
vented it from being opened. A tape is now tied cross- 
wise around the box in such a way as not to interfere 
with the working of the end. The latter is then placed 
upside down in a second larger box, whose only peculiar- 
ity is, that its inside istwo inches longer and a quarter of 
an inch wider than necessary to ensure a snug fit. The 
prepared end of the small box is left partly open, a small 
wad of paper placed there preventing it from accidentally 
closing. The bottom nails are also partly withdrawn and 
are kept from sliding into place by additional wads. The 
second box is then corded and sealed and placed in the 



90 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

largest box in which it just fits; this box is then tied and 
sealed in a similar way. 

The rest of the properties required are several sheets 
of red, white and blue paper, some pieces of ribbon of 
different shades, and a large handkerchief with an old 
watch, which is in running order, sewn in its corner. 

The performer borrows a watch and wraps it in the 
paper chosen by the company, tying this with the selected 
ribbon as already explained. He then pretends to wrap 
the parcel in the handkerchief but palms it and instead 
wraps up the watch sewn in the double corner. This 
parcel is given to a spectator to keep, who is requested to 
convince himself of the presence of the watch in the 
handkerchief by listening to its ticking. In the mean- - 
time the conjurer has disposed of the watch by dropping 
it into his profonde or pochette. The watch apparently 
wrapped in the handkerchief is now commanded to leave 
the latter and to appear in the corded box. After the 
handkerchief is shaken out and seen to be empty, atten- 
tion is called to the box, whose fastenings are dul\' 
inspected. A spectator cuts the tapes and the performer 
proceeds to take out the second box, which he gives to 
another spectator to hold, while he places the largest box 
on the table. During this time he has obtained posses- 
sion of the borrowed watch and palmed it in the right 
hand; transferring the large box from the left to the right 
hand, thereby enabling him to lay the watch, unseen by 
any one, behind the large box in the act of placing the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 9 1 

latter on the table. After the tapes surrounding the 
second box are cut and the latter opened by the per- 
former, who under pretense of removing the paper pack- 
ing, allows the borrowed watch, which he has meanwhile 
picked up, to slide into the partly open end of the small 
box, which contains a little cotton batting to prevent any 
noise made in dropping the watch into the box. All this 
of course is the work of an instant only, the performer 
immediately bringing out the small box after having 
quickly closed its open end. While carrying it to a spec- 
tator with the request to examine it thoroughly, he 
presses the partly withdrawn nails into their regular 
place. The spectator, after examining the box as re- 
quested and finding nothing suspicious about it, cuts the 
tapes and discovers in it the missing watch, still contained 
in the original package. 

It will be best to have all boxes constructed of ordi- 
nary deal and have all three of like appearance, as in 
boxes made of fancy woods the nails on the innermost 
box, w^iich play such an important part in the trick, 
would appear somewhat out of place. 



ICE CREAM MADE IN A BORROWED HAT. 

After having removed an immense quantity of 
articles as cannon balls, baby clothes, handkerchiefs, etc., 
from a borrowed hat, the conjurer deliberately pours into 
the latterall the ingredients, as cream, sugar, flavor, nec- 
essary for making ice-cream, and to the delight of the 



9? Li^TTER DAY TRICKS. 

juvenile menrbers of the company, immediately begins to 
produce a large quantity of ice-cream from the borrowed 
hat. _ 

Although this trick cannot be called a very artistic 
•one, nevertheless its performance will be found to meet 
with "great favor,- especially with audiences where chil- 
dren are in the majority. The apparatus required con- 
sists of a tin receptacle a trifle smaller than the'inside of 
-a-\silk hat. By means of an upright partition the tin ves- 
sel. is'divided into two compartments of equal size, each 
compartment being closed by a separate sliding lid. 
'After one of the compartments has been filled with ice- 
cream, the lid is closed and the vessel placed in readiness 
on the servante. A silk hat is then borrowed and a 
quantity of articles, such as handkerchiefs, baby clothes, 
are produced from it in the regular way, the articles being 
then laid on the table, near its rear edge. Picking up the 
entire lot, at the same time introducing the vessel from 
the servante under it, the performer places everything 
back in the hat, of course introducing the vessel first, 
allowing the other things to lie on top. The owner of 
the hat is then asked whether he desires to have his 
property wrapped up in order to facilitate the task ot 
taking it home. No matter what the answer is, the con- 
jurer lays the articles aside and proceeds to pour the 
ingredients for the making up of ice-cream into the empty 
compartment of the vessel, having slid back the lid in tlie 
meantime. This compartment is then closed, the other 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 93 

one opened and the ice-cream ladled out into suitable 
dishes, being then distributed among the company by the 
performer himself. While every one's attention is draw.n 
to him, the assistant takes the hat behind the scenes for 
an instant only, just giving him time to remove the ves- 
.sel. Immediately returning with a brush and the hat, he 
vigorously applies the brush to the latter, which after, the 
distribution of the ice-cream is then returned to its owner. 

COINS AND PLATE. ' - 

In '*Tlie Modern Wizard" an explanation will be 
found, of a very appropriate finale to the ever popular 
trick of catching out of the air a large quantity of coins, 
which are dropped into a borrowed hat. In the trick 
referred to the coins thus produced were poured on a)i 
ordinary plate, which was covered by a small sheet of 
paper, upon removal of which the coins were found to 
have flown. 

In the variation of the trick that I am about to 
describe practically the same conditions as in the first 
method prevail. A plate placed on the table, near its 
rear edge, a second plate or bowl on the servante of the 
latter, and a small sheet of paper, just large enough to 
cover the plate, constitute the necessary paraphernalia. 
After the conjurer has caught a sufficient quantity of 
coins and dropped them into the hat, he turns up the 
sweat band of the latter and tilting the hat towards him- 
self so that the coins will slide to one end, inverts it on 



94 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

the plate, apparently pouring the coins into the latter. 
In reality however he allowed the coins to fall into the 
plate on the servante. If this sleight is executed with 
a proper amount of dexterity, the illusion will be'found 
to be a perfect one. Removing the hat with one hand, 
the other hand, which has meanwhile picked up the sheet 
of paper, immediately places it over the plate, to prevent 
the spectators from seeing that it really is empty. The 
performer then seizes the plate, which is still covered and 
asks the spectators whether they would like to take home 
the coins as souvenirs. After having received an almost 
unanimous reply in the affirmative, the conjurer quickly 
removes the paper and pretends to toss the contents of 
the really empty plate out to the audience. 



COIN AND SWORD. 

The performer takes a borrowed dollar and placing 
it with its rim on the very edge of a sword or large knife, 
balances it on the latter, then causing it to roll, without 
falling off, from one end of the sword to the other. The 
coin is then returned to its owner. 

My astute reader has of course guessed that it is 
necessary to exchange the borrowed coin for a prepared 
dollar, which really consists of three coins, a dollar, a 
nickel five cent piece and a half dollar which are stuck 
together by means of adhesive wax. The five cent piece, 
which is attached to the center of the dollar and which is 
the middle piece, form a groove by the aid of which the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 95 

coin may be balanced and caused to freely roll back and 
forth on the sword. It is almost unnecessary to state 
that during the trick only the unprepared side of the dol- 
lar is seen by the audience, who have no suspicion of the 
presence of the other two coins on the back of the latter. 
Seen from a little distance which *Mends enchantment to 
the view," the feat is a very pretty one and may be nicely 
combined with other coin tricks. 



THE SPIRIT ENVELOPE, 

The spirit envelope can be employed to excellent: 
advantage in connection with a great many different 
tricks^ as by its aid answers can be given to proposed 
questions, names of selected cards will be disclosed, etc., 
according to the fancy of the performer. 

The effect of the trick is as follows: From a wire or 
ribbon stretched across the room is seen suspended an 
envelope, which, if the conjurer likes, he can take down 
and show empty. A question is then written by a spec- 
tator on a card furnished by the performer, wh(; visibl}' 
places it in the suspended envelope. After a few mo- 
ments have elapsed, to give the spirits time to operate as 
the performer explains, he takes down the envelope and 
takes out of it a card, which contains a full and correct 
answer to the proposed question. 

The only peculiarity of the suspended envelope, onh' 
the back of which is shown to the company during the 
entire trick, is that its front is covered with a good qual- 



96 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

ity of black satin, which is neatly glued on. In taking 
dovvn the envelope for the purpose of showing it empty 
and subsequently in inserting the card containing the 
question, the conjurer is very careful not to expose the 
black, rear side of the envelope. By means of any dodge 
at his command, such as the use of a prepared pad of 
paper, between which a layer of carbon paper is con- 
cealed, he has acquainted his assistant behind the scenes 
with the nature of the question, whereupon the assistant 
rapidly writes an answer to the latter on a duplicate card, 
which he encloses in a second envelope prepared exactly 
like the suspended one. This envelope he places, black 
side uppermost, on a shallow^ metal tray, over the flat 
part of which black satin has been glued, the rest of the 
tray being japanned black. While the performer is still 
entertaining the audience with his patter, the assistant 
brings in the tray and places it on a chair or table. The 
conjurer then announces that no doubt by this time the 
spirits have performed the allotted task, and seizing the 
tray, goes to the suspended envelope. The envelope 
already lying on the tra}^ cannot be noticed, especially as 
the performer it at some little distance from the audience. 
After taking down the suspended envelope, the conjurer 
places it, black side downwards, exactly upon the enve- 
lope on the tray, then picking up both envelopes together, 
they appearing as one to the audience. In replacing 
them on the tray, they are carelessly turned over, 
whereby the second envelope, which contains the answer 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 9/ 

to the question, is brought uppermost. This envelope 
the conjurer opens and extracts from it the card as 
described, the original envelope, the black side of which 
is now uppermost, remaining unseen on the tray, which a 
moment later is carried off the stage by the assistant. 



THE NEW COLORED SAND TRICK. 

In '*The Modern Wizard" I explained a trick with 
sands of four different colors. In the next pages I will 
describe two different and later versions of the same trick. 
FIRST METHOD. 

The conjurer prepares himself for the trick by plac- 
ing about a wineglassful of ordinary sand, dyed a red 
color, on a small sheet of goldbeater's skin, wrapping up 
the sand firmly in the latter, and after tying the parcel 
with a strong thread, trims off the superfluous skin. 
After having made up a number of parcels of each color 
of sand, he places one of each in a bag of unprepared 
sand of the corresponding color and is then ready for the 
performance of the trick. 

Showing an ordinary basin or bowl, he partly fills it 
with water and reaching into the bags of sand takes out 
several handfuls of each color, placing them in the bowl 
and stirring them up, so they will become thoroughly 
mixed. While placing the sand in the bowl, the per- 
former picks out and loads into the latter the prepared 
parcels. Showing several empty plates, he states that he 
will produce from the bowl any of the colors of sand in a 



98 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

perfectly dry state. After the spectators have named the 
color they desire him to produce first, he places his empty 
hand in the bowl, finds the parcel of the desired color 
and closing his hand over it, brings it out. With the 
other hand he picks up one of the plates and holding the 
hand containing the parcel above it, squeezes the latter, 
thereby breaking the thin skin and causing the sand to 
trickle upon tlie plate in a perfectly dry state. The 
empty skin, which remains concealed in the hand, is then 
diifposed of by dropping it into the profonde or may be 
hidden under the towel with which the performer dries 
his hands after each production. The remaining colors 
of sand are then called for and produced in a similar 
manner. 

To prevent the water from entering the skin and wet- 
ting the sand, while the parcel lies in the basin of water, 
the opening of the skin is stopped up by melted paraffine 
dropped on it from a burning candle. 
SECOND METHOD. 

Although this method bears a certain resemblance to 
the one just described, the manner of performing it is an 
entirely different one. 

The conjurer must provide himself with several toy 
balloons, which after being expanded a trifle are each filled 
with unprepared, different colored sand; each balloon is 
then closed by tying a strong thread around the opening. 
If the performer chooses he can use goldbeater's skin 
instead of the balloons. Placed on the performer's table 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. 99 

are several plates containing dry sand, one of the small 
prepared balloons being concealed behind the rim of each 
plate, the contents of which the performer now proceeds 
to empty into the bowl or basin of water. As he picks 
up a plate, he at the same time seizes the balloon con- 
cealed behind it and drops it into the water with the sand, 
being now at liberty to produce from the bowl any of the 
colors of sand. For this purpose he simply finds the 
proper balloon, closing his hand over it and bringing it 
out. By squeezing the parcel he breaks the skin sur- 
rounding it or cuts it with one of his finger nails, which 
for that purpose has been left long and sharp. 

THE CANDY BAG. WATCH AND HANDKERCHIEFS. 

A watch and two handkerchiefs are borrowed and 
then placed into an ornamented pasteboard cylinder, the 
open ends of which are then closed by two lids. Once 
more showing that the articles are really contained in the 
tube, the performer introduces a cubical candy bag, which 
is closed by two ribbons tied crosswise around it. Open- 
ing these libbons, he commences to distribute candy out 
of the bag, wlien suddenl}' he produces from among the 
candy the first borrowed handkerchief, which is quickl\' 
followed by the watch and remaining handkerchief. The 
cylinder is then opened and found to be perfectl)- empt\'. 

In the pasteboard cylinder is concealed a second, 
somewhat shorter cylinder, the inside of which is lined 
similar to the cylinder proper and which can freely move 



lOO ""LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

back and forth in the latter. The borrowed articles are 
therefore really placed into the inside cylinder, and while 
picking up the upper lid of the cylinder proper the per- 
former holds it for an instant behind a box standing on 
the table, allowing the inside cylinder to slide out and to 
remain standing behind the box. The second remaining 
lid is then placed on the lower end of the now empty 
cylinder. 

In the bottom of the candy bag will be found a 
round hole, which is a shade larger in diameter than the 
inside cylinder hidden behind the box. On the inside of 
the bag is glued a cylinder, the lower end of which cor- 
responds with the size of the hole cut in the bottom of 
tlie bag. 

While engaging the attention of the spectators with 
his patter, the performer secretly places the candy bag 
over the cylinder hidden behind the box, causing the 
cylinder to enter the bag and to remain there by being 
held in place with his fingers. 

In order to be able to apparently show that the 
articles are still contained in the pasteboard cylinder, one 
of the lids is a double one, the inner one having a bit of 
white lining glued on. The performer therefore removes 
the outer lid, exposing the inner one, thus convincing the 
audience, who appear to see the upper handkerchief, that 
the articles are still there. 

The bag is now opened and some of the candy that 
is packed around the tube, is distributed. Then the 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. lOI 

articles are one after the other produced from tlie bag 
and handed to their respective owners. 



THE FLOATING BALL OF PAPER, 

The Floating Paper Ball Trick is a genuine Japanese 
feat which up to the present time has been known to two 
or three performers only. For an unfathomable and 
mysterious trick it can hardly be surpassed, for in seeing 
it performed the saying that *'the more you look, the 
less you see," will only become too true. 

The performer shows a sheet of soft tissue paper of 
about a foot square, crumpling it up into a ball, which, 
as he states in his patter, he will suspend in the air with* 
out any support whatever. He proceeds to do so and 
the paper ball is seen to remain suspended in the air. To 
prove that nothing sustains it, the conjurer passes both 
hands above, below and all around the ball. Finally he 
takes the right hand and holding it some six inches above 
the ball, by raising and lowering the hand, causes the 
ball to ascend and descend, being seemingly attracted in 
some mysterious way by the fingers, whose every move 
it obediently follows. During all this time the performer 
passes his disengaged hand above, below and all around 
the ball, even passing it through between hand and ball, 
while the latter is ascending. 

The ball is then placed on an ordinary plate, which 
the performer holds with his left hand. The right hand 
then approaches the center of the lower side of the plate, 



I02 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

and the moment it does so, the ball rises up in the air. 
dancing up and down according to the movements of the 
right hand under the plate. Once more the performer 
suspends the ball in the air and with the left hand hold- 
ing the plate some six inches above it, places the right 
hand on the upper side of the plate. By raising and 
lowering this hand he causes the ball to repeat its mys- 
terious performance. Finally the paper forming the 
ball is unrolled and after being shown from all sides, is 
passed for examination. 

The author has no doubt but that during the perusal 
of the effect of the trick, his readers' face will assume a 
somewhat incredulous look, but nevertheless the effect 
described is exactly the one produced upon the audience. 

The secret of the trick is simplicity itself, depending 
upon the use of an extremely fine silk thread, which is no 
thicker than a hair. (Although the author is a dealer in 
magicians' supplies, he does not consider it fair to adver- 
tise his wares here, but as it will be practically impossible 
for the reader to obtain the proper thread, without the 
use of which the trick loses half its artistic beauty, the 
author shall be pleased to furnish this thread at cost price 
to the readers of this volume). To one end of this thread 
is fastened a pellet of adhesive wax, which is then at- 
tached to the back of the conjurer's head, the other part 
of the thread being allowed to hang down. To the other 
end of the thread is fastened another pellet of wax by 
means of which this end is fastened to the performer's 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. IO3 

shoulder. This arrangement is necessary, as by its use 
any accidental breakage of the thread, which is quite 
long, is thereby avoided. When ready to perform the 
experiment, the performer picks up the paper, at the 
same time moving a chair or table out of his way and 
secretly sticking the end of the thread which he took off 
his shoulder to the back of the chair or rear edge of the 
table top, thereby completing his arrangement. Turning 
his side to the audience, the chair standing in direct line 
with his person, he carefully walks backwards until the 
thread is drawn almost taut. He now places the sheet 
of paper around the thread, forming it into a ball, which 
he suspends in the air as described by simply regulating 
his position so that the thread is drawn fairly taut. The 
ascending and descending of the ball is accomplished by 
the raising and lowering of the head,. which looks per- 
fectly natural as. the performer takes care to make it act 
in perfect unison with the movement of the right hand, 
which seems to be the cause of the movements of the 
ball. The use of the plate is not necessary, but makes 
the trick much more mysterious, besides strengthening 
the audience in the belief that it is the right hand which 
is the attractive power. As this is **misdirection" upon 
which the success of all tricks depends, due attention 
ought to be paid to this part of the trick. 

For the passing of the hands around the ball, no 
special directions can very well be given At the first 
thought one would believe that the passing of the hands 



104 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

would be limited on account of danger of coming in con- 
tact with the thread, but such is not the case, as with a 
little practice the hands can, to all intents and purposes, 
be apparently passed around the ball in any direction. 

The use of the special thread is recommended, 
because it makes the trick practically indetectable and 
admits of its performance in the parlor under the very 
eyes of the spectators. However if desired, a fine black 
thread, or what is better, a dark grey thread, which is of 
the same color as the atmosphere, may be substituted in 
stage performance. 



I06 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 



LIST OF CONTENTS. 



Page. 

Robinson's Flying Handkerchiefs 5 

The Improved Soup Plate and Handkerchief Trick 9 

First Method 10 

Second " 10 

Third " 11 

Fourth * ' , . , 12 

The Four Soup Plates and Handkerchiefs 13 

The Handkerchief Coloring Trick 15 

Handkerchief Productions, Continued from * ' The Modern 

Wizard' ' 

Twelfth Method 16 

Thirteenth " 17 

Fourteenth '* , 18 

Fifteenth '' i9 

Sixteenth * * 20 

The Chameleon Handkerchiefs 21 

The New Gordian Knots 23 

Second Method 24 

The Vanishing Handkerchief. 25 

The Three Colored Handkerchiefs 26 

The New Torn and Restored Handkerchief, 27 

Handkerchief and Envelope 28 

The Handkerchief Produced from a Card 29 



LATTER DAY TRICKS. lOJ 

The Newest Billiard Ball Trick 29 

The Fairy Tube and Ball 32 

First Method 3^ 

Second " 34 

Third '' 35 

The New Glass Vase and Appearing Balls 37 

Handkerchief, Lemon and Glass 38 

The New Egg and Handkerchief Trick 41 

The New Vanishing Eggs 42 

The Disappearing Egg 44 

The Balanced Eggs 

First Method 45 

Second " J,^ 4^ 

The Vanishing Coin Tube 47 

Coins, Hat, Plate and Glass 49 

The Hat, Glass and Coins 51 

Wine Instead of Flowers 52 

Wine, Handkerchief and Bottle 53 

The New Flying Glass of Water 55 

The Glass Cylinder and Water Trick 57 

The Bewitched Decanter 59 

The Die and Flowers 61 

The Soup Plate and Flowers 

First Method 63 

Second * ' 64 

The Color Changing Rose 

First Method 66 

Second ** 67 

The Bewitched Wand 67 

The Magical Oil Painting 70 

The Broken and Mended Wine Glass 71 

The New Writing Hand 73 

Robinson's Ring and Potato Trick 5 

The Chameleon Paper Shavings 

First Method 76 

Second " 77 

Third " 7<S 



I08 LATTER DAY TRICKS. 

Paper Shavings Changed into Bon Bons So 

The Unlucky Hat 8i 

The Disappearing Gold Fish 83 

The Wand and Flying Rings 84 

Invisible Journe}^ of Two Canaries 85 

The Hypnotised Cane _ 86 

The New Nest of Boxes : 88 

Ice Cream Made in a Borrowed Hat 91 

Coins and Plate 93 

Coin and Sword 94 

The Spirit Envelope. 95 

The New Colored Sand Trick 

First Method 97 

Second " 98 

The Candy Bag, Watch and Handkerchiefs 99 

The Floating Ball of Paper loi 



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